Artwork
Bathsheba at her bath
Bathsheba at her bath is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Domenico Riccio. It dates from 1552 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Domenico Riccio, also known as Domenico Brusasorci, painted *Bathsheba at her Bath* in 1552. Executed in oil on canvas, the work belongs to the mid‑sixteenth‑century Italian Mannerist tradition. It is presently part of the Uffizi Gallery’s collection in Florence.
Subject & Meaning
A servant in a striped shirt pours water, while a second woman, turned away, holds a cloth, suggesting the ritual of bathing and modesty.
The composition presents the biblical Bathsheba reclining in a shallow basin, her nude form partially covered by a translucent dress. A servant in a striped shirt pours water, while a second woman, turned away, holds a cloth, suggesting the ritual of bathing and modesty. The calm expression of Bathsheba and the surrounding figures convey a narrative of private preparation observed from a distance.
Technique & Style
Riccio employs the elongated proportions and artificial poses characteristic of Mannerism, emphasizing elegance over naturalism. Strong chiaroscuro creates dramatic contrasts: illuminated skin and drapery stand against shadowed columns and balustrade. The oil medium allows for smooth modelling of flesh and the subtle sheen of wet fabrics, while the architectural backdrop frames the scene with a sense of staged theatricality.
History & Provenance
Created in Verona during Riccio’s mature period, the painting entered the Uffizi’s holdings at an early date, though the exact acquisition path is undocumented. It has remained in the museum’s collection, where it is displayed among other works illustrating the evolution of Italian Mannerist painting.
Context
The work reflects the period’s fascination with biblical subjects rendered in sensual, courtly settings. Riccio, better known for fresco cycles, applied his experience with large‑scale narrative to a more intimate oil painting, integrating architectural elements that echo contemporary Renaissance interior design while adhering to the stylized aesthetic of his Mannerist peers.
Artist & collection
Artist
Domenico Riccio (also known as commonly known as Domenico Brusasorci; 1516 – 1567) was an Italian painter in a Mannerist style from Verona, best known for frescoes.
