SWART VAN GRONINGEN, Jan
(b. ca. 1500, Groningen, d. ca. 1560, Antwerpen)

The Triumph of Silenus

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Oil on panel, 83 x 68 cm
Private collection

In Greek mythology Silenus is a rural god, one of the retinue of Bacchus, a gay, fat old drunkard who was yet wise and had the gift of prophecy.

Swart's secure oeuvre is limited to woodcuts and stained glass, and so although a number of panel paintings have been attributed to him on stylistic grounds, the authorship of these are at this time uncertain. However, The Triumph of Silenus certainly seems to be stylistically consistent with this tentative oeuvre.