Sick Bacchus

painting by Caravaggio

Also known as: “Self-Portrait as Bacchus”

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July 15, 2026

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Self-Portrait as Bacchus, also known as Sick Bacchus, is a painting by the Italian artist Caravaggio. Created around 1592–99, it is believed to have been painted while Caravaggio was working in Giuseppe Cesari's workshop. The painting depicts a youthful Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, with a wreath of vine leaves and a basket of fruit. However, the figure appears somewhat ill, with a pallid complexion and a languid expression, leading to the title Sick Bacchus. This work is considered an early example of Caravaggio's innovative style, blending classical themes with a realistic, often gritty, portrayal of his subjects. It is currently housed in the Borghese Collection in Rome.12

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Caravaggio
First apprenticeships in Rome: Pucci, Cesari, and Petrigiani
…Self-Portrait as Bacchus (also called Sick Bacchus). Both were expropriated from Cesari by Scipione Borghese, the papal nephew, in the early 1600s and have remained in the Borghese collection ever since. They are subtle and bittersweet works, the first perhaps inspired by the divine longing of the Bridegroom in the…
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…Self-Portrait as Bacchus (also called Sick Bacchus). Both were expropriated from Cesari by Scipione Borghese, the papal nephew, in the early 1600s and have remained in the Borghese collection ever since. They are subtle and bittersweet works, the first perhaps inspired by the divine longing of the Bridegroom in the…
Read More