Bacchus, the God of Wine, had always been painted and portrayed as slender and muscular. Ruben decided to change that when he painted this painting of Bacchus at a larger size than his lean, slender portrayals.
This painting and artwork displaying all types of bodies demonstrates that the thought that obese people have only recently exists is wrong. It also shows that all bodies are art and all bodies can be seen as something to be admired as art.All bodies were portrayed as elegant, beautiful/handsome and important to society. It also shows that bodies had to be fought for but because they were seen as important and beautiful/handsome they were fought for. Ruben was one of many who painted fat bodies,which we sadly do not hear about today.
According to ArtBible, this painted is an oil painting and it's height is 191 cm and it's length is 161.30 cm. It was painted 1638-1640 in Flanders, Belgium and according to Saint Petersberg Guide, Rubens was not commissioned by anyone to paint this painting and he kept it for himself, in his own studio until his death.
According to Art Hermitage Museum, Rubens was fascinated by the natural instincts and the natural beauty of all bodies and he wanted to paint them. Portraying Bacchus as obese is very important, as he is a God and Gods are usually portrayed as lean. As you can see, the painting didn't portray obese people as funny, or something to be laughed at. Rubens portrayed Bacchus in a similar way to similar paintings of the God of wine.
Bacchus is not the side kick or the fat friend who is comic relief, he is the main focus which is hardly seen with fat bodies, even in our present time. This entire painting has representation of fat bodies, without the intent of humor or disgust (besides the child peeing, but that is not the disgust directed towards fat bodies).
According to Art Hermitage Museum, Rubens was fascinated by the natural instincts and the natural beauty of all bodies and he wanted to paint them. Portraying Bacchus as obese is very important, as he is a God and Gods are usually portrayed as lean. As you can see, the painting didn't portray obese people as funny, or something to be laughed at. Rubens portrayed Bacchus in a similar way to similar paintings of the God of wine.
Bacchus is not the side kick or the fat friend who is comic relief, he is the main focus which is hardly seen with fat bodies, even in our present time. This entire painting has representation of fat bodies, without the intent of humor or disgust (besides the child peeing, but that is not the disgust directed towards fat bodies).
References
N.a. "Peter Paul Rubens - Bacchus." Pubhist.com. n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://www.pubhist.com/w17598>
Peter Paul Rubens.org."Rubens - The Complete Works - Bacchus 1638-40 - peterpaulrubens.org." Peterpaulrubens.org. n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://www.peterpaulrubens.org/Bacchus-1638-40.html>
Artble. "Bacchus." Artble. 12 Jun. 2015. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://www.artble.com/artists/peter_paul_rubens/paintings/bacchus>
Art Hermitage Museum. "Bacchus - Pieter Paul Rubens." Arthermitage.org. 18 Jul. 2017. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://www.arthermitage.org/Pieter-Paul-Rubens/Bacchus.html>
Web Gallery of Art. "Bacchus by RUBENS, Peter Paul." Wga.hu. 8 Oct. 2017. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://www.wga.hu/html_m/r/rubens/23mythol/53mythol.html>
St Petersburg. "St Petersburg - Peter Paul Rubens - Bacchus." St Petersburg. n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://saint-petersburg.guide/hermitage-flemish-art/peter-paul-rubens-bacchus>
Tavis Leaf Glover. "Rubens - ANALYZED PAINTING #1." Canon of Design - Mastering Composition and Dynamic Symmetry in Photography and Painting!. 29 Jan. 2014. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://www.ipoxstudios.com/rubens-analyzed-painting-1/>
N.a. "Peter Paul Rubens - Bacchus." Pubhist.com. n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://www.pubhist.com/w17598>
Peter Paul Rubens.org."Rubens - The Complete Works - Bacchus 1638-40 - peterpaulrubens.org." Peterpaulrubens.org. n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://www.peterpaulrubens.org/Bacchus-1638-40.html>
Artble. "Bacchus." Artble. 12 Jun. 2015. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://www.artble.com/artists/peter_paul_rubens/paintings/bacchus>
Art Hermitage Museum. "Bacchus - Pieter Paul Rubens." Arthermitage.org. 18 Jul. 2017. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://www.arthermitage.org/Pieter-Paul-Rubens/Bacchus.html>
Web Gallery of Art. "Bacchus by RUBENS, Peter Paul." Wga.hu. 8 Oct. 2017. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://www.wga.hu/html_m/r/rubens/23mythol/53mythol.html>
St Petersburg. "St Petersburg - Peter Paul Rubens - Bacchus." St Petersburg. n.d. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://saint-petersburg.guide/hermitage-flemish-art/peter-paul-rubens-bacchus>
Tavis Leaf Glover. "Rubens - ANALYZED PAINTING #1." Canon of Design - Mastering Composition and Dynamic Symmetry in Photography and Painting!. 29 Jan. 2014. Web. 30 Dec. 2017. <https://www.ipoxstudios.com/rubens-analyzed-painting-1/>