(Gorinchem 1566–1651 Utrecht)
Sine Baccho et Cerere Friget Venus,
oil on panel, 66 x 78.5 cm, framed

Provenance:
with Arcade Gallery, London, circa 1970;
with C. Humphris, London, by 1972;
sale Christie’s, London, 7 March 1980, lot 126

Literature:
C. Wansink, Van Bloemen andere ‚aertse‘ geneugten…, in Nederlands Kunsthistorisch Jaarboek, 1987, vol. 38, pp. 397-401;
M. Roethlisberger, Abraham Bloemaert and His Sons, Ghent, 1993, vol. I, pp. 60-61, no. 10, reproduced vol. II, fig. 21

This picture has been dated to circa 1590 by Roethlisberger (see literature), who also offers comparative examples in Bloemaert’s Apollo and Merkur, Argus und Io, both from 1592. A drawing sold at Christie’s, Amsterdam, on 24 November 1992, lot 22, as attributed to Bloemaert (see C. Wansink under literature, fig 1) shares a similar composition, and a second drawing inscribed ‘blommart’ is in the Helen Foresman Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas (see literature, Roethlisberger, fig. 23).

The Latin title Sine Baccho et Cerere Friget Venus (‘Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus freezes’) derives from a quote by the Roman playwright Terence (Eunuch IV: 732). In the present picture Ceres, Goddess of Agriculture is identifiable by the stalks of wheat and scythe she holds, while Bacchus, God of Wine, leans against a barrel holding a bunch of grapes in one hand and vine leaves in the other. Cupid holds a wine glass beside the reclining figure of Venus, who dominates the composition. Her expression is that of being awakened from a deep sleep by the divinities that surround her.