by Tom Gurney
Tom Gurney BSc (Hons) is an art history expert with over 20 years experience
Published on June 19, 2020 / Updated on October 14, 2023
Email: tomgurney1@gmail.com / Phone: +44 7429 011000
Bacchanal with Silenus was an original engraving from Andrea Mantegna before Albrecht Durer completed a detailed copy for his own enjoyment.
He had initially asked to produce a pressed piece from the original but this request had been rejected and he was forced to create his own version manually. He incorporated a few changes from the original in his own drawing, intentionally, but it was faithful to the original in most cases. Durer completed the drawing in around 1481. To see members of the Italian and Northern Renaissance clearly influencing each other helps us to understand the developments of both movements during this period.
Mantegna's engraving dates from around a decade earlier and is now owned by the Michael C. Carlos Museum. It is one of just a handful of engravings completed by this Italian master and remains in fairly good condition considering its age. Durer's version features a greater contrast between the figures and the background.
There is also considerable detail added to the foliage that sits behind the multitude of figures. The topic itself is a famous item from ancient mythology and has been incorporated into the work of many Renaissance besides just these two.