1-154-724 - Art Media/Heritage Images

'The Triumph of Bacchus' or 'The Drunkards', 17th Century. Velázquez, one of the few Spanish painters to depict mythological scenes, was often accused of treating the feats and tales of the classical gods with little respect, and even mockery. Actually, however, guided by his magnificent realism he simply brought the gods down to the mortal world. The best and most realistic way to present the triumph of the god of wine- Bacchus for the Romans and Dionysius for the Greeks- was to show him among a group of everyday drunkards. From the collection of the Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain.