Artwork

Sculpture - The infancy of Bacchus of the first century in the Lateran Museum, a Nymph gives him drink

Sculpture - The infancy of Bacchus of the first century in the Lateran Museum, a Nymph gives him drink is a photographic photography by the Impressionist artist John Henry Parker. It dates from 1867 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This photograph captures a first-century Roman relief sculpture, now housed in the Lateran Museum, Rome.

About this work

A woman in flowing robes stands beside a tree, holding a child who reaches for a bunch of grapes.

This photo shows a carved stone relief. A woman in flowing robes stands beside a tree, holding a child who reaches for a bunch of grapes. Nearby, a goat and a dog are carved into the rock, and a basket sits on the ground.

The artist took this photo of an ancient Roman sculpture in 1864. The original work shows Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, as a baby.

Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more of their collection.

Overview

This photograph captures a first-century Roman relief sculpture, now housed in the Lateran Museum, Rome. The image is part of a large collection of photographs documenting Roman artifacts, produced between 1864 and 1879.

Subject & Meaning

The relief depicts a nymph offering a drink to the infant Bacchus, god of wine, amidst a pastoral scene featuring a tree, goat, dog, and basket. The infant Bacchus reaches for a bunch of grapes, symbolizing his future association with wine.

Technique & Style

The photograph reproduces a carved stone relief, showcasing the texture and detail of the ancient sculpture. The original relief is characterized by its flowing robes and naturalistic depiction of figures and animals.

History & Provenance

The photograph was taken in 1864 as part of John Henry Parker's documentation project, which amassed over 3,300 images of Roman monuments and artifacts. Many of these photographs, including this one, were later published in Parker's multi-volume 'Archaeology of Rome'.

Context

The Victoria and Albert Museum holds a significant portion of the photographs taken before 1870, providing a valuable resource for the study of Roman artifacts and their documentation during the 19th century.

Artist & collection

Artist

John Henry Parker

John Henry Parker liked to explore old churches in Rome. He'd photograph the sculptures and carvings he found. One thing that stands out is his attention to detail - he'd capture tiny parts of bigger pieces, like the…