12908 Bernard de Montfaucon (1655-1741) – Fête de Bacchus – Etching (1719)
"Fête de Bacchus". This work illustrates a classical relief depicting a Bacchic festival or Dionysian rite. The scene features a central bearded figure, likely representing Silenus or an elder follower of Bacchus, surrounded by satyrs and revelers engaged in music and libations. To the left, a group of figures carries a small statue, while to the right, a reclining figure is attended to within a draped architectural setting. This etching is a double-page plate from the seminal work L'Antiquité expliquée et représentée en figures, published in Paris in 1719. The series was a monumental effort to categorize the religious and social practices of the ancient world by documenting surviving Greco-Roman sculptures and sarcophagi.
Bernard de Montfaucon was a French Benedictine monk and scholar who is widely recognized as one of the founders of modern archaeology. He dedicated his life to the study of ancient manuscripts and artifacts, seeking to provide a factual basis for the understanding of classical history. His monumental work L'Antiquité expliquée was a major intellectual achievement of the early eighteenth century, synthesizing vast amounts of archaeological data into a coherent visual format. Montfaucon’s meticulous approach to documenting physical remains influenced generations of historians and artists, playing a pivotal role in the development of Neoclassicism.
Artist or Maker:
Bernard de Montfaucon.
Dimensions:
Approximately 42 cm x 52 cm.
Medium:
Etching.
Date:
1719.
Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.
| Estimate | 300 - 400 SEK |
| Buyers Premium (inc. VAT) | 24.4% |
| Hammer Fee (inc. VAT) | 6 SEK |
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