The Vintage; a man pouring grapes from a basket into a vat, above Bacchus sitting, other figures at left
Original title: The Vintage; a man pouring grapes from a basket into a vat, above Bacchus sitting, other figures at left
kurzbeschreibung
A burly man kneels in the foreground of Marcantonio Raimondi's engraving 'The Grape Harvest,' tipping a basket of grapes into a large vat. Bacchus sits enthroned on a pedestal above, and other figures gather to the left. Made around 1517–20, the print measures 19 × 14.5 cm.
Description
A muscular man kneels at the front, emptying a basket of grapes into a large container. Beside him stands a woman balancing a basket of fruit on her head; behind her are two naked boys with fruit. Bacchus crowns the top, seated on a plinth, holding a vessel, his head wreathed in a garland. The arrangement feels clearly ordered, the figures carefully modeled, gaining volume from fine lines and hatching.
Context
Raimondi, an Italian engraver of the Renaissance, is best known for his reproductive prints after Raphael. 'The Grape Harvest' was made around 1517–20 in Rome, where he worked closely with Raphael. The theme of the harvest is a classic motif often linked to Bacchus and widely embraced in Renaissance art. The print reflects influences from ancient Roman art and contemporary painting.
Impact
The clear layout and precise observation of the figures give the print a calm, idyllic mood. Graded shading and exact lines produce a sculptural appearance that enlivens the scene. The contrast between the labor in the foreground and the divine presence above lends the image a symbolic dimension.
Technique
For this engraving, lines were cut into a metal plate and then printed on paper. Raimondi used fine, parallel hatching to draw out light and shadow, a hallmark of his technique. The monochrome approach emphasizes the graphic quality and the virtuosity of the linework.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)