"grande Bacchanale," Oil On Canvas, Early 20th Century

A major mythological composition depicting a bacchanal, attributed to the French painter Pierre Magnan-Bernard (1880–1950).

Set against a vast wooded landscape, the artist depicts a lively procession inspired by the world of Bacchus: Silenus, crowned with vine leaves, appears on his donkey, surrounded by maenads and Bacchic figures, while satyrs, musicians, and dancing figures enliven the scene. In the foreground, a figure leans toward the animal, while a character lying on the ground accentuates the composition’s tumultuous movement.

The subject of our painting is particularly characteristic of this body of work. A painting by Magnan-Bernard titled *The Procession of Bacchus*, dated 1905, already depicts Silenus on his donkey accompanied by an aulos player and satyrs. The documentation on this work also notes the existence of a more accomplished composition titled *Bacchanales*, as well as another *Triumph of Bacchus*.

Condition: scratches and small holes noted.