Diego Velázquez (1599-1660), After - Les Ivrognes

Oil on canvas executed according to Diego Velázquez (1599-1660), directly inspired by a fragment of his famous composition The Triumph of Bacchus, popularly known as The Drunkards, one of the most emblematic works of the Sevillian master.

The painting reproduces the group of figures located at one end of the original composition, focusing on three popular characters gathered around wine. By isolating this set from the full scene, the painter turns the fragment into an autonomous composition of great expressive force, giving full prominence to the faces, the gestures, and the interaction among the characters.

The work is executed with great pictorial quality, especially notable for the treatment of the physiognomies and the ability to reproduce the intense naturalism of the Velázquez model. The wide-brimmed hat character, whose broad smile constitutes one of the most recognizable elements of the original composition, acts as the main visual focal point. The other two figures also present strongly characterized faces, endowing the group with notable expressiveness and humanity.

The treatment of light and chiaroscuro is especially remarkable. The illumination falls on the faces and hands, making them emerge from the dark areas of the clothing and generating a powerful contrast. The palette, deliberately sober, is built essentially from blacks, earth tones, ochres, and toasted hues, enriched by the flesh tones and the bright white of the vessel placed in the foreground.

The original work by Diego Velázquez, The Triumph of Bacchus or The Drunkards, was created between 1628 and 1629 and is currently housed in the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid. In it, Velázquez approached a mythological subject from a deeply naturalistic perspective, combining the presence of the god Bacchus with popular figures represented with extraordinary individuality and realism.

The present painting takes directly as reference a part of that famous composition, constituting a later reinterpretation according to the Velázquez model. The use of the formula “according to Diego Velázquez” precisely indicates its dependence on a known composition by the master, without implying direct attribution to the artist or to his workshop.

Beyond its relation to the original model, this is a work of notable execution quality, especially appreciable in the construction of the faces, the flesh tones, the expressions, and the luminous contrasts. The painter demonstrates particular attention to the psychological character of the characters and to the plastic values of Spanish Baroque painting.

An attractive Velázquez-inspired work, of great presence and decorative strength, based on one of the most recognizable figurative ensembles in the history of Spanish painting.

Authorship: according to Diego Velázquez (1599-1660).
Subject: fragment of The Triumph of Bacchus (The Drunkards).
Technique: oil on canvas.
Genre: figurative painting / interpretation of an old master.

The work is presented framed. The frame is offered as a gift to the buyer and is not an integral part of the work, so any possible defect of the frame will not be grounds for complaint.

It is recommended to closely observe the photographs, which form an integral part of the description, to assess the condition of the work.

Shipping

The work will be carefully and professionally packed to ensure its adequate protection during transport.

Deliveries to destinations outside the European Union may be subject to taxes, duties, import fees, and/or customs procedures. These possible costs are the exclusive responsibility of the buyer and are not included in the price of the work or in the shipping costs.

Additionally, shipments to islands, insular territories, or areas considered remote or hard to access by transport companies may incur additional costs. Any surcharge applied by the shipping company for this reason must be borne by the buyer.