---
title: Fresco of Dionysos and Ariadne, Getty Villa
author: The J. Paul Getty Museum
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10589/fresco-of-dionysos-and-ariadne-getty-villa/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
updated: 1970-01-01
---
# Fresco of Dionysos and Ariadne, Getty Villa
_Authored by The J. Paul Getty Museum_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/10589.jpg)
## Image Caption
[Fresco](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Fresco/) Panel Depicting [Dionysos](https://www.worldhistory.org/Dionysos/) and [Ariadne](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ariadne/), between 1 and 79 CE. Nude but for the drapery swirling around them, [Bacchus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Bacchus/) and his consort Ariadne walk with arms entwined against a plain white background, as if floating. Ariadne lifts a ceremonial drinking horn called a rhyton, while Bacchus carries a kantharos (wine cup). The scene is surrounded by a double border. This square fresco panel, possibly from a ceiling, likely decorated the same room as two other thematically similar [wall](https://www.worldhistory.org/wall/) painting fragments that show a [Silenus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silenus/) (see 83.AG.222.2) and a maenad (see 83.AG.222.4.2), both followers of the wine [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/) Bacchus. The paintings may have decorated a luxurious [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) villa. The fresco was produced by stretching bundled reeds between the laths that supported the wall, a technique known as opus craticium. A mortar of lime and sand (arriccio) was then applied, followed by a finer layer of ground marble (intonaco). The painted decoration was applied while the intonaco was still wet, bonding with it as they dried. Impressions from the reeds are visible on the back of the fresco, and near Bacchus'' left shoulder are fingernail impressions where the painter supported his hand as he worked. Numerous details, such as the wreaths worn by the gods, were applied in paint after the fresco had dried. Currently on display at the Getty Villa, Los Angeles, USA.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Museum, T. J. P. G. (2019, May 10). Fresco of Dionysos and Ariadne, Getty Villa. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Museum, The J. Paul Getty. "Fresco of Dionysos and Ariadne, Getty Villa." *World History Encyclopedia*, May 10, 2019. .
### MLA
Museum, The J. Paul Getty. "Fresco of Dionysos and Ariadne, Getty Villa." *World History Encyclopedia*, 10 May 2019, .
## License & Copyright
Digital image courtesy of the Getty's [Open Content Program](https://www.getty.edu/projects/open-content-program/). The Getty makes available, without charge, all available digital images to which the Getty holds the rights or that are in the public domain to be used for any purpose. No permission is required. [Original image](http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/16268/unknown-maker-fresco-panel-depicting-dionysos-and-ariadne-roman-ad-1-79/?dz=0.5781,0.1177,4.39) by [**The J. Paul Getty Museum**](http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/16268/unknown-maker-fresco-panel-depicting-dionysos-and-ariadne-roman-ad-1-79/?dz=0.5781,0.1177,4.39). Submitted by [Jan van der Crabben](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/jvdc/ "User Page: Jan van der Crabben"), published on 10 May 2019. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0deed.en). This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.