Bacchus (Leonardo)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bacchus

Workshop of Leonardo da Vinci, 1510-1515

Oil on panel transferred to canvas

177 × 115 cm

Louvre, Paris

Bacchus is a painting often attriubuted to the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. However, some have claimed that the painting could have been done by Cesare da Sesto, Cesare Bernazzano, Francesco Melzi or a 'Lombard painter'. The background does not seem to be typical of Leonardo's work. The painting is of John the Baptist who is pointing with his right hand off to the right, and with his left hand to the bottom of the picture.

[edit] Theory

Although unclear, the positions of his hands may suggest that because the staff he has in his hand does not represent the cross (like other paintings of St. John), it may be indicating that without the cross, you are doomed for hell, which he is pointing to with his left hand.