Who painted The Drinking Customs of Society or Worship of Bacchus?

The Drinking Customs of Society or Worship of Bacchus was painted by George Cruikshank in 1864.

Where can I see The Drinking Customs of Society or Worship of Bacchus?

The Drinking Customs of Society or Worship of Bacchus is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is The Drinking Customs of Society or Worship of Bacchus?

The Drinking Customs of Society or Worship of Bacchus is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

The Drinking Customs of Society or Worship of Bacchus

George Cruikshank , 1864

The Drinking Customs of Society or Worship of Bacchus is a print by the Impressionist artist George Cruikshank. It dates from 1864 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

You see a crowded scene full of drunk people, fights, and sad families—all framed like a wild Roman party.

You see a crowded scene full of drunk people, fights, and sad families—all framed like a wild Roman party.

Cruikshank used this old Roman festival to mock how alcohol tore apart Victorian England. The print is huge, almost like a warning poster. The tiny details show everything from happy toasts to broken homes.

Look up more works about england, 19th century to see how artists tackled social problems.

Overview

Created in the Victorian period in England, this large-format print stages a chaotic scene modeled on a Roman bacchanal, the ancient rite of Bacchus. Central sculptural figures representing the god, his mentor Silenus, and a devotee dominate the composition, while surrounding vignettes depict a range of domestic and public occasions—weddings, christenings, birthdays, funerals—each linked by the presence of drink.

Subject & Meaning

The work juxtaposes the mythic revelry of antiquity with the everyday realities of 19th‑century British life, highlighting how alcohol permeated celebrations and tragedies alike. Beneath the central deities, widows and orphaned children symbolize the personal toll of excessive consumption, suggesting a moral critique of the social habit that linked pleasure with loss.

Technique & Style

Executed as a detailed print, the image employs fine line work and dense cross‑hatching to render crowded figures and intricate background elements. The composition is organized in tiers, with the central classical statues set against a bustling foreground, creating a theatrical tableau that balances allegorical symbolism with realistic observation of contemporary attire and settings.

History & Provenance

The print is attributed to George Cruikshank, an illustrator known for his involvement in temperance advocacy during the mid‑1800s. Produced amid a broader English movement urging moderation or total abstinence, the piece functioned as a visual argument against the social harms of drinking, circulating as a public warning in the era’s reformist literature.

Artist & collection

Artist

George Cruikshank

George Cruikshank or Cruickshank ( KRUUK-shank; 27 September 1792 – 1 February 1878) was a British caricaturist and book illustrator, praised as the "modern Hogarth" during his life.