Student Artwork Guide — Bacchus and Ariadne

Name Class Date

Charles-André van Loo, Bacchus and Ariadne. Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist: Charles-André van Loo topimpressionists.com/en/artists/charles-andre-van-loo/
Artist’s dates: 1705 – 1765
Original size: 111 x 142 cm

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Charles-André van Loo died in 1765; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1835.

Bacchus and Ariadne — Charles-André van Loo

How big is it?

The original measures 111 × 142 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When might this have been painted?

1700
1710
1720
1730
1740
1750
1760

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 60 at death.

Shaded: the lifetime of Charles-André van Loo (1705–1765) every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1733 Main working years: 1733–1757 Late works: from 1757

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Aeneas Carrying Anchises, 1729 topimpressionists.com/en/art/charles-andre-van-loo-aeneas-carrying-anchises-8XZN5F-en/
The Sacrifice of Iphigenia, 1757 topimpressionists.com/en/art/charles-andre-van-loo-the-sacrifice-of-iphigenia-D364HE-en/
Perseus and Andromeda, 1735 topimpressionists.com/en/art/charles-andre-van-loo-perseus-and-andromeda-8XZPY8-en/

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/charles-andre-van-loo-bacchus-and-ariadne-AQTB8F-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

Main colour

Rosy Brown #c2ad7b

Catalogued palette

#C2AD7B
#3F2806
#9A7C3C
#755515

These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

Palette: Dark The dominant colour family in the image.
Main colour name: Rosy Brown
Intensity: Vivid How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
Contrast: Bold How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
Harmony: Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
Brightness: Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
Saturation: Clear Color Presence How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

Where in the world is this painting looked at?

under 1%
1–3%
3–8%
8–20%
20% and over

This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Charles-André van Loo over the last twelve months — 17 countries in all. Where these figures come from

The ten leading countries

1 China 54.2%5,200 visits
2 Italy 8.3%800 visits
3 United States of America 8.3%800 visits
4 Germany 5.2%500 visits
5 Czechia 4.2%400 visits
6 Türkiye 3.1%300 visits
7 Bulgaria 2.1%200 visits
8 France 2.1%200 visits
9 India 2.1%200 visits
10 Moldova 2.1%200 visits
· 7 other countries 8.3%800 visits

Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

The 20 most looked-at works by Charles-André van Loo

1 Jerusalem Delivered Tancredi Fighting Clorinda, 1733 7.1%800 visits
2 MARIE LECZINSKA 5.3%600 visits
3 Aeneas Carrying Anchises, 1729 4.4%500 visits
4 Halt of the Hunt, 1737 3.5%400 visits
5 Life of St Augustine Saint Augustine Disputing with the Donatists, 1753 3.5%400 visits
6 Mary Magdalene in the Desert, 1761 3.5%400 visits
7 ENEE PORTANT ANCHISE 2.7%300 visits
8 Mademoiselle Clairon as Medea (study), 1759 2.7%300 visits
9 Mademoiselle Clairon as Medea (small version), 1760 2.7%300 visits
10 Perseus and Andromeda, 1735 2.7%300 visits
11 The Drunken Silenus, 1747 2.7%300 visits
12 Bacchus and Ariadne this painting 2.7%300 visits
13 Jahel and Tamah (study), 1733 2.7%300 visits
14 Jerusalem Delivered Erminia Taking the Armor of Clorinda, 1733 2.7%300 visits
15 Head of a Child 2.7%300 visits
16 Jupiter and Antiope, 1753 1.8%200 visits
17 Jerusalem Delivered Clorinda Appearing in a Dream to Tancredi, 1733 1.8%200 visits
18 The Mass of Saint Gregory the miracle of the host, 1764 1.8%200 visits
19 Mademoiselle Clairon as Medea (large version), 1759 1.8%200 visits
20 Life of St Augustine Procession of the Relics of St Augustine, 1748 1.8%200 visits

Together these works take 60.6% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 120 works by this artist, of which 59 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 12 of them, with 2.7% of that attention (300 visits). The same counts, month by month

Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

Artist

Charles-André van Loo

Born in Nice, France

Early Life and Training

Born: February 15, 1705, in Nice, France

Family Background: Son of Louis-Abraham van Loo and younger brother of Jean-Baptiste van Loo. Member of a successful dynasty of Dutch painters.

Early Education: Initial training in Turin, followed by studies in Rome (1712) under Benedetto Luti and Pierre Legros.

Parisian Studies: Attended the Académie royale, winning first prize for drawing in 1723 and historical painting in 1727.

Artistic Career and Notable Works

Style: Primarily known as a Rococo painter, characterized by elegance, grace, and ornate detail.

Subject Matter: Diverse range including portraits, mythological scenes, historical paintings, allegories, and genre scenes.

Significant Works:

Venus and Amor (Kunsthalle Bremen) - Demonstrates mastery of the Rococo style.

Halt of the Hunt (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) – Captures aristocratic activities.

Portrait of Marie Leszczynska, Queen of France – A notable royal portrait.

Jupiter and Antiope - Showcases mythological themes.

Self Portrait – Provides insight into the artist's self-perception.

Perseus and Andromeda (multiple versions) – Illustrates skill in depicting classical mythology.

Mademoiselle Clairon as Medea (small version) - A captivating Rococo portrait of 1760.

Patronage and Royal Recognition

Royal Patronage: Enjoyed the patronage of Madame de Pompadour and the French court.

Appointment to the Court: Became First Painter to King Louis XV in 1762, a prestigious position.

Order of Saint Michael: Decorated with the Order of Saint Michael, signifying royal favor.

Influences and Legacy

Family Influence: Heavily influenced by his father and brother, both accomplished painters.

Rivalry: Competed with François Boucher, another prominent Rococo artist.

Modern French School: His "simplicity of style and correctness of design" significantly influenced the modern French school of painting.

Critical Fortune: While his critical standing fluctuated over time, his skill and the breadth of his work command respect.

Museum Collections & Further Exploration

Museum Presence: Works are featured in prominent museums including the Louvre (The Marriage of the Virgin), Kunsthalle Bremen, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Further Resources:

AllPaintingsStore's Charles-André van Loo page: https://www.AllPaintingsStore.com/artists/charles-andre-van-loo/

AllPaintingsStore's Greatest Artists of All Time page: https://www.AllPaintingsStore.com/greatest-artists

AllPaintingsStore Virtual Museum: https://www.AllPaintingsStore.com/

Wikipedia Article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles-Andr%C3%A9_van_Loo

Where to read more

The artist Charles-André van Loo topimpressionists.com/en/artists/charles-andre-van-loo/
Similar works More works to compare topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/charles-andre-van-loo-bacchus-and-ariadne-AQTB8F-en/

Find this online

QR code linking to the download page for Bacchus and Ariadne

topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/charles-andre-van-loo-bacchus-and-ariadne-AQTB8F-en/

Cite this artwork

MLA: Loo, Charles-André van. Bacchus and Ariadne. n.d., https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/charles-andre-van-loo-bacchus-and-ariadne-AQTB8F-en/
APA: Loo, Charles-André van (n.d.). Bacchus and Ariadne [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/charles-andre-van-loo-bacchus-and-ariadne-AQTB8F-en/
Chicago: Charles-André van Loo. Bacchus and Ariadne. n.d. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/charles-andre-van-loo-bacchus-and-ariadne-AQTB8F-en/
Harvard: Loo, Charles-André van (n.d.) Bacchus and Ariadne. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/charles-andre-van-loo-bacchus-and-ariadne-AQTB8F-en/

Bacchus and Ariadne — Charles-André van Loo

Look closely

Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

What catches your eye first, and why?
Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
Look back at Aeneas Carrying Anchises (1729), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
What might the artist have wanted you to feel?
If you could ask the artist one question about this work, what would it be?

Your response

Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

Questions & Answers

How saturated is the palette of "Bacchus and Ariadne"?

The colors of "Bacchus and Ariadne" by Charles-André van Loo have a clear color presence saturation. Saturation describes how vivid or muted the colors are.

How do I discover artworks close to "Bacchus and Ariadne" by Charles-André van Loo?

The Similars page of "Bacchus and Ariadne" by Charles-André van Loo presents related artworks.

Who created "Bacchus and Ariadne"?

"Bacchus and Ariadne" was created by Charles-André van Loo. The information on this page describes Charles-André van Loo's original work.