Title: Birth of Bacchus

Artist: Giulio Romano

The Birth of Bacchus 1530s Giulio Romano (Giulio Pippi) and Workshop Italian, Rome before 1499–Mantua 1546 Oil on panel Originally part of a series depicting mythological love stories, created for the Gonzaga court in Mantua, this panel is a commentary on the perils of passion. Bacchus was the son of a mortal woman, Semele, and Jupiter, king of the gods. Jealous of their affair, Jupiter's wife, Juno, tricked Semele into asking Jupiter to demonstrate his full power, knowing his lethal lightning will kill her. Here, Bacchus is born as his mother is consumed by flames. His hapless father flees clutching his thunderbolt, while Juno looks on apprehensively.