Bacchanalian Scene with Satyrs and a Maenad

Master of 1515

National Gallery of Art

This print depicts a group of people and creatures in a scene together. In the center, a nude woman sits on the ground, one elbow resting on a low bench or surface behind her. On the left, a human-like creature with long horns and pointed ears is pressed close against her, one hand on her chin and one curved around her body to grab her breast. The woman looks to the right, away from the creature, a neutral expression on her face. One of her hands reaches up to touch the chest of another horned creature on the left. This creature is standing, revealing goat-like legs. One of its hands covers its face, while the other holds a plate or dish upwards. A cloth seems to drift upward from its shoulders. On the far left, another creature is seated or reclining, looking towards the center. This creature has shorter horns. On the right, behind the woman, is a small cherub-like creature with a bird perched on its hand. There is a vase near the bottom right corner and a tall tree with twisting vines and bunches of fruit behind the central couple. The background is made of thin diagonal lines stretching from the top left corner to the bottom right. A small stream of water appears to flow across the ground.