The Wine Press

From the museum

Here, Silenus sits thoughtfully on a throne, wine cup in hand, accompanied by harvesters who carry and transfer grapes. The composition was invented by renowned painter Raphael, with whom engraver Marcantonio Raimondi had a long-standing collaborative relationship. The powerful poses of Silenus, the crouching man, and the statuesque woman can be traced to relief-carved Roman sarcophagi (stone coffins) probably known to Raphael. The print may record part of a now-lost painted bacchanalia image made by Raphael for the Duke of Ferrara’s palace in Italy. Bacchic subject matter showed the duke to be a cultured man who also gave a good party. Silenus, Bacchus's tutor, portrayed here watching the grape harvest with his wine cup, was known for his ability to drink wine straight from the barrel without mixing it with water (which was how mere mortals enjoyed the drink).

The museum’s own description, in English. Licence: CC0