The artwork titled “Arion on a Sea Horse and Bacchante on a Panther (pair),” created by William-Adolphe Bouguereau in 1855, is an exemplary piece from the Academicism and Neoclassicism movements. This mythological painting, rendered in oil on canvas, measures 87.3 x 127 cm. The depicted scenes draw from classical mythology and exhibit the artist’s meticulous technique and adherence to classical traditions.
The upper part of the artwork portrays Arion, a mythic musician, seated majestically upon a sea horse, accompanied by his lyre, symbolizing harmony with nature and the divine. He is depicted in a serene and composed manner, with strong attention to anatomical details and flowing fabric that accentuates the movement of the sea horse. The lower part of the painting showcases a Bacchante, a female follower of Bacchus, dynamically poised on a panther. Her figure exudes vitality and abandon, reflecting the Dionysian revelry and connection with wild nature. Both scenes are bounded by an ornate, oval frame that complements the classicism and elegance intrinsic to Bouguereau’s oeuvre.
