Pomiculture

Michelangelo Caravaggio, Bacchus, 1595

On this final edition of Pomiculture we return to the 16th century for a taste of some sweet decadence. This
time, it's Michelangelo Caravaggio's Bacchus.  Bacchus was the god of wine, but was also known for his madness and ecstasy. Caravaggio's portrayal of Bacchus is more reminiscent of a drunk youth than a god. The entire painting oozes with decadence, from the posture of Bacchus, his facial expression, his offering of wine to the viewer, and his adornment in fruit.

Bacchus' fruit has become the topic of conversation for many art critics. In this particular painting Caravaggio made the fruit appear a bit unappetizing. The peaches look brown and moldy, the apples are under ripened, and the grapes are a pale brown. Some have speculated that Caravaggio was trying to represent the ephemeral nature of worldly things. It's an interesting use of fruit and stands out among this collection.