'Bacchus and Ariadne', 1521-3
by Titian
London, The National Gallery

The Greek princess Ariadne has been abandoned on the Greek island of Naxos by her lover Theseus, whose ship is just visible sailing away in the distance. The picture shows the moment when, as she grieves the loss of Theseus, she is startled by Bacchus, god of wine, with his followers. Bacchus has fallen in love with Ariadne at first sight and leaps from his cheetah-driven chariot to meet her. He asks her to marry him, offering her the sky as a wedding gift, in which one day she will become a constellation. We can see these stars above Ariadne's head.

The subject of Bacchus and Ariadne is taken from the work of the classical poets Catullus and Philostratus. The picture was made in Italy for Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, as part of the decoration of a small room in the duke's palace.

Click here to view work from the 2002 exhibition, inspired by this painting.

© The National Gallery, London

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