Fine Art Poster
From $120
A giclée print on 200gsm matte fine art paper, using a twelve-colour process for accurate, fade-resistant colour. Supplied unframed, delivered flat or rolled.
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Bacchus - Caravaggio
Regular price
$120.00 NZD
Sale price
$120.00 NZD
Regular price
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
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Made to order
Description
A seminal Baroque portrait by Caravaggio, depicting a youthful Bacchus with a bowl of fruit and a glass of wine.
Painted during his early years in Rome, Caravaggio's Bacchus depicts the Roman god of wine in a manner that departs from traditional mythological representation. Rather than an idealised deity, the figure appears as a youth, possibly a model from the artist's circle, draped in classical robes that suggest a theatrical costume. The subject offers a shallow glass of red wine toward the viewer, his expression one of languid invitation.
Technically, the work demonstrates the artist's early mastery of naturalism and light. The composition is anchored by the still life elements in the foreground, which include a bowl of fruit showing signs of decay. This inclusion of overripe produce, such as the worm-eaten apple and spotted leaves, introduces a memento mori element, contrasting the youthful vitality of the figure with the inevitable passage of time. The lighting is directional, typical of the artist's developing style, which would later evolve into the more dramatic chiaroscuro of his mature period.
The painting was likely commissioned by Cardinal Francesco Maria del Monte, a patron of the arts who provided Caravaggio with his first significant residence in Rome. The technical execution, particularly the rendering of the glass carafe and the reflections within the wine, reveals the artist's close observation of optics and material surfaces. The figure's pose, with his hand resting on the black ribbon of his robe, creates a subtle tension within the otherwise relaxed scene. This work remains a primary example of the transition from the late Mannerist style to the early Baroque, reflecting a shift toward a more direct, observational approach to painting that would influence European art for decades.
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Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Complete The Look
Bacchus - Caravaggio
Fine Art Poster / Small Square (30x30 cm) / -
Artist Biography
Caravaggio
Caravaggio killed a man in a fight over a tennis match. Or a gambling debt. Or a woman. The sources disagree. What is certain is that Ranuccio Tomassoni died on a Roman street in May 1606, Caravaggio held the sword, and the painter spent the last four years of his life on the run.
Before the killing, he had already transformed European painting. He arrived in Rome from Milan in the early 1590s, hungry and unknown, and within a decade had developed a method of painting from life, using strong directional light against deep shadow, that made the prevailing Mannerist style look theatrical and empty. He used real people as models: prostitutes, street boys, labourers. His saints had dirty feet. The Church commissioned altarpieces and then rejected them for being too vulgar, too real, too much like the people who actually attended church.
The Calling of Saint Matthew, painted for the Contarelli Chapel in San Luigi dei Francesi, is his method at its clearest. The light enters from the upper right like a blade. Matthew sits at a tax collector's table with his companions. Christ points. The scene looks like something you might see through a doorway, which is roughly the viewer's position. Nothing is idealised. The moment is ordinary and sacred simultaneously.
After the killing he fled to Naples, then Malta, then Sicily, then back to Naples. He kept painting. The late works are darker, faster, more desperate. He received a papal pardon and boarded a boat north. He died on a beach in Porto Ercole in July 1610, at thirty-eight. The cause is unknown: fever, infection, possibly lead poisoning from his paints. His influence on Rembrandt, Velazquez, Georges de La Tour, and every painter who has ever used a spotlight is difficult to overstate.
Before the killing, he had already transformed European painting. He arrived in Rome from Milan in the early 1590s, hungry and unknown, and within a decade had developed a method of painting from life, using strong directional light against deep shadow, that made the prevailing Mannerist style look theatrical and empty. He used real people as models: prostitutes, street boys, labourers. His saints had dirty feet. The Church commissioned altarpieces and then rejected them for being too vulgar, too real, too much like the people who actually attended church.
The Calling of Saint Matthew, painted for the Contarelli Chapel in San Luigi dei Francesi, is his method at its clearest. The light enters from the upper right like a blade. Matthew sits at a tax collector's table with his companions. Christ points. The scene looks like something you might see through a doorway, which is roughly the viewer's position. Nothing is idealised. The moment is ordinary and sacred simultaneously.
After the killing he fled to Naples, then Malta, then Sicily, then back to Naples. He kept painting. The late works are darker, faster, more desperate. He received a papal pardon and boarded a boat north. He died on a beach in Porto Ercole in July 1610, at thirty-eight. The cause is unknown: fever, infection, possibly lead poisoning from his paints. His influence on Rembrandt, Velazquez, Georges de La Tour, and every painter who has ever used a spotlight is difficult to overstate.
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Fine Art Framed
From $250
The same fine art print in a solid wood frame with UV-protective acrylic glaze and rigid backing. Five frame colours. Arrives ready to hang.
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