The Bacchanal Relief by Aimé Jules Dalou
In this episode, we’ll be visiting the Bacchanal Relief by Jules Dalou at The Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Welcome to Art, Culture & Books with me, Anthony King. This is the first of several versions of Jules Dalou’s Bacchanal. It was originally exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, in 1879. There are several versions of this piece including a bronze at the Musée d’Orsay, Paris. Jules Dalou was born December 31, 1838 in Paris and died April 15, 1902. This relief of painted plaster was made in 1879 by Dalou and shows a drunken orgy which was part of the ancient cult of Bacchus. The word Bacchanal is defined “a wild and drunken celebration” from Bacchus the Greek god of wine.