The Feast of the Gods is an oil painting on canvas by the Italian painter Giovanni Bellini, begun in 1514 and completed by Titian in 1529. It depicts the gods of Greco-Roman mythology gathered around a banquet in an idyllic landscape. It measures 170.2 x 188 cm and is housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington. It belongs to the Venetian Renaissance movement, characterized by mastery of color and light.
Historical context of the work
The Feast of the Gods is part of a series of paintings commissioned by Duke Alfonso d’Este to decorate his palace in Ferrara. The sovereign was a great patron who wanted to compete with other Italian courts in art and culture. He had designed a gallery dedicated to mythological and antique themes, which was to house six paintings depicting scenes of bacchanals.
Bellini received his commission for first painting in 1514. He was then most famous and respected painter in Venice. He had chosen as subject feast of gods, inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses. He had made preparatory sketch which he sent to duke for approval. He then began painting final version on large canvas.
The painting was completed by Titian in 1529. The young painter was pupil and successor of Bellini, who died in 1516. He had been commissioned by duke to complete mythological gallery with five other paintings. He also retouched Bellini’s painting to harmonize it with his own. He notably modified colors, shadows and details.
The painting remained in Ferrara until 1598, when it was transferred to Modena by Duke Cesare d’Este. It was then sold to several collectors before being acquired by Andrew Mellon in 1936. It was finally donated to National Gallery of Art in 1937.
Analysis of painting
The painting depicts moment when gods are interrupted in their feast by appearance of Priapus, god of fertility. The scene takes place in bucolic setting composed of flower garden, verdant wood and peaceful lake. The composition is organized according to horizontal plan that follows line of banquet.
In foreground, we see gods sitting or lying on colorful cushions or drapes. They wear light clothing or are naked. They hold cups or fruits in their hands. They express various feelings: pleasure, surprise, amusement, anger…
On right, we see Priapus hiding behind tree. He is recognizable by his disproportionate phallic attribute. He tries to approach sleeping nymph Lotis. But he is unmasked by Silenus’ donkey braying loudly.
In middle ground, we see other characters watching scene or turning away from it. We recognize Silenus, Bacchus’ drunken companion; Hermes, winged messenger of gods; Pan, horned god of shepherds; Diana, chaste goddess of hunt; Apollo, solar god of music; Venus, goddess of love; Mars, god of war; Jupiter, king of gods; Juno, his jealous wife; Neptune, god of seas; Vulcan, god of fire; Mercury, god of commerce; Bacchus, god of wine; Ariadne, his abandoned companion.
In last plan, we see landscape stretching to horizon. We distinguish bluish mountains, white clouds and clear sky.The palette of painting is rich and harmonious: it mixes warm tones (red, orange, yellow) and cool tones (blue, green). Bellini and Titian use oil on canvas technique to create transparency and luminosity effects that enhance realism and poetry of scene. They also take care with details such as characters, animals and plants that demonstrate their attentive observation and creative imagination.
Interpretation
The Feast of the Gods is typical work in Venetian style characterized by sensual and refined beauty of form. Bellini and Titian express their personal vision mythology by staging joyful and light scene.
Bellini and Titian do not seek to faithfully illustrate Ovid’s narrative or convey moral or religious message. Rather they freely draw inspiration from ancient text to create original and pleasing work. They thus highlight contrast between divine grace and human coarseness; between natural harmony and comic disorder; between subtle eroticism and burlesque grotesque.
Bellini and Titian also address their patron and cultured public who appreciate learned references and erudite allusions. They thus evoke their knowledge ancient art contemporary art; their admiration for Italian Flemish masters; their taste for esoteric symbols intellectual games.
The Feast Gods is therefore remarkable work for its technique expressiveness. It is also emblematic work from Venetian Renaissance testifying to artistic cultural talent Bellini Titian.
