Interactive Gigazoom • Scroll or Double-Click
100%
The Cleveland Museum of Art
A Satyr Family Traveling
Description
The idea of a satyr family captured the imagination of many artists. Stefano Della Bella’s portrayal features a father and mother who travel with their satyr son, maenad daughter, and a herd of goats while carrying a grape harvest. Della Bella deliberately evoked images of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph on their flight to Egypt. Whereas the Holy Family is sacred and chaste, the satyr family is rooted in bodily pleasures. Theirs is a union fueled by wine and revelry, embodying the reckless fertility of nature.
Provenance
(R. M. Light & Co., Inc., Santa Barbara, CA, sold to The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Dimensions
22.4 × 22.4 cm
Movement / Period
Accession No
1963.171
Official Citations
Curatorial Affinity Stream
Continuing the Universe of Stefano Della Bella (Italian, 1610–1664)
Prints • Italy, 17th century • Harmonious Works & Contemporaries
Continuous Discovery