Feast with Cupid and Vervet Monkey

“Feast with Cupid and Vervet Monkey” 32×30 inches, oil on canvas is now available at the Meyer Gallery in Santa Fe. The main inspiration came from a painting by Giovanni Bellini and Titian “Feast of the Gods”.

The subject of the gods of classical antiquity engaged in a bacchic celebration was a popular theme in Renaissance painting. The classical Roman poet Ovid recounted the bacchanal in several passages in his poem “Fasti”.

In my painting I wanted to set the scene in the northern New Mexican desert as one would see it framed by the stage at the Santa Fe Opera. The bacchante is preparing for the feast setting down a bowl of fruits while a mischievous cupid and monkey pull off fruits for themselves.