Drunken Silenus

Jacob Jordaens was one of the most important Flemish artists along with Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck. Jordaens chose the Silenus of the Baroque period as the motif for his painting. Silenus is a hybrid creature from Greek mythology. He appears as the companion of Dionysos, the God of Wine, and can be recognised by his donkey’s ears and the tendrils in his hair. At the centre of this painting in portrait format we see Silenus with bare torso, carrying Dionysos on his shoulders. The latter has two small horns on his forehead. Silenus grasps the calves of the young God of Wine and his slightly flushed face suggests he is somewhat strained by the burden on his shoulders. For his part, Dionysus holds a bunch of grapes in front of Silenus’s nose. The scene is observed by a smirking man in the background, of whom only the head is visible; his body is concealed by Silenus’ torso.