Image Essay #9

The above painting, called “Bacchus and Ariadne,” was done with oil on canvas by the painter Titian, and currently hangs in the National Gallery in London. Although Titian is anything but a modern painter (this particular painting was done between 1522 and 1523), his work portrays an above average example of a narrative painting. Most of Titian’s paintings convey a story of some sort to the viewer through the use of images.

This particular piece of artwork tells the tale of Ariadne, princess of Crete, who has just been left on the island of Naxos, abandoned and heartbroken by her lover Theseus. The figure seen leaping out of the chariot is the god Bacchus, who has come to capture the princess Ariadne and take her to be his bride, against her will. By becoming the wife of a god, Ariadne will be made a goddess, and will gain immortality. The circle of stars seen in the painting up in the sky symbolizes her bridal crown. (“Investigating Bellini’s ‘Feast of the Gods’” was my source for this story).

Long ago, in the era of Titian, it was very common for narrative artwork to be based on mythology or religion of some sort. Since then, storylines displayed through art have developed greatly. This painting is an example of the beginnings; the roots of narrative artwork. Titian’s story-telling painting is similar to our project “The Story of This Place,” in which we our goal was to convey a personal narrative through a painting.