Smith, John: A catalogue raisonné of the works of the most eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French painters: in which is included a short biographical notice of the artists, with a copious description of their principal pictures : a statement of the prices at which such pictures have been sold at public sales on the continent and in England; a reference the the galleries and private collections in which a large portion are at present; and the names of the artists by whom they have been engraved; to which is added, a brief notice of the scholars & imitators of the great masters of the above schools (Part 8) (London: Smith and Son, 1837)

110

NICHOLAS POUSSIN.

Mythological Subjects.
objects, and these occupy the whole of the fore-ground. The
group exhibits in the centre, a beautiful nymph replete with
wine lying naked on her back, and on the farther side of her,
are two satyrs giving drink to the panthers which draw the
car. At the head of the recumbent nymph, is a faun bearing
vessels of gold on his shoulders; and close to him are three
infants and a goat; two of them are playing on the ground, and
the third is resisting the attack of the goat. In advance of the
car is a dancing nymph gaily playing on the tambourine,
and in the rear are a nymph beating the symbols, and a satyr
blowing a horn. Silenus, mounted on an ass and supported
on either side by a faun, is passing on the farther side of the
panthers. Upon an eminence in the distance, Bacchus is
seen with the beautiful Ariadne by his side. Engraved by
Beauvais.

211. The Triumph of Bacchus. This splendid picture
represents the deity as a youth of great beauty, clothed in
a scarlet vesture which ssoats airily over his shoulder, and
seated in a car, holding the thyrsus in his hand ; a male and
female centaur are attached to the car; the former is mounted
by a bacchante, who has a torch and a chaplet in her hand,
while cupid directs their course : in advance of them are two
of the menades or priestesses, one of whom carries the thyrsus
entwined by a snake, and the other has a vine branch. The
train of the peaceful conqueror is composed of Hercules,
bearing on his shoulders the sacred tripod of Apollo; Pan
playing on the syrinx ; Silenus with a branch of the sacred
tree in his hands, and three fauns: one of the latter bears
a banner, on which is written, “ Evoe, Evoe, hail, hail, to
Bacchus !” The other two play on instruments of music. On
the right of the fore-ground is a male figure recumbent