It is hard to believe that Michelangelo was only 21 when this piece was commissioned. Bacchus, the God of Wine, is seen here drunk and struggling to stay upright. He holds in his right hand his goblet of wine. His left hand is holding lionskin, a symbol of death. Interestingly, his hair is also composed of grapes. This piece was specially commissioned to imitate the anient statues. Bacchus possesses both the muscular masculine sides and with a hint of feminine trait at the same time. Michelangelo cleverly creates an illusion of movements into this piece of marble with the contraposto position of the figure. The Satyr provides support to the marble and to the myth of this classical god.
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