Smiling Young Man Squeezing Grapes

Artist Gerrit van Honthorst (Dutch, 1590–1656)

Date1622

Mediumoil on canvas

Dimensionscanvas: 83.3 x 66.7 cm (32 13/16 x 26 1/4 in.)

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LineCharlotte E.W. Buffington Fund

Terms

canvas

Object number1968.15

Label TextHonthorst signed this painting at the upper right and recorded its date as 1622. It was formerly thought to represent Dionysos and to be closely related to Caravaggio's paintings of that god, but the dress of the toper is a Burgundian theater costume, quite different from the traditional attributes of Dionysos. It is likely that Honthorst was reworking the Italian mythological subject for a Northern moralistic purpose. The relaxed attitude of the figure and his devil-may-care expression indicate clearly that he is under the influence of alcohol, so his irrational and even ludicrous attempt to squeeze wine from fresh, unfermented grapes must be a comment on the evil effects of overindulgence. Honthorst was a native of Utrecht. He traveled to Italy where he was influenced by Correggio, Tintoretto, and especially Caravaggio, and returned to Utrecht in 1620. He is known particularly for his adaptation of Caravaggio's dramatic lighting to Northern genre painting. He enjoyed an international reputation during his lifetime and was the founder of one of the first painting academies in Holland.ProvenanceCollection of Count Moltke, Copenhagen; F. C. Moltke sale, Winkel and Magnussen, Copenhagen, June 1-2, 1931, no. 59; Collection von Kaufmann, Skolskof, Copenhagen; Christie’s sale, London, anonymous owner, May 14, 1965, no. 120; David M. Koester (dealer), Zurich, Switzerland; Guttman Arts Ltd., New York, by 1968; sold to the Worcester Art Museum, 1968.

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