Public domain
Bacchus and Ariadne
From the collection of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Lairesse painted a classic tale from the Metamorphoses by the Roman poet Ovid. Princess Ariadne is abandoned by her lover on the island of Naxos. There, she meets Bacchus, the god of wine, who instantly falls in love with her and grants her immortality. As a wedding gift, he transforms her crown into the constellation Corona Borealis ensuring that she will be remembered forever. In the painting, her starry crown shines bright amidst the pink clouds.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit lineBacchus and Ariadne. c. 1680. Gerard de Lairesse. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Public domain.
