The Raucous Celestial Banquet that Fits in the Palm of your Hand

In this episode of Anatomy of an Artwork, immerse yourself in the heavenly details of Joachim Anthonisz Wtewael’s A Banquet of the Gods. Comprising nearly 50 elegantly posed figures, this intricate painting is a paradigm of Dutch Mannerist art. Cupid holds his signature arrow near a drunken bacchus, as Wtewael uses fine brushstrokes and vivid colors to bring this elaborate portrait to life. Wtewael's small-scale paintings remain his most prized works and this oil-on-copper composition reveals the artist’s extraordinary versatility and prowess.