Il "Bacco" di Michelangelo: fonte

Speranza

It has not been established on which classical BACCO statue the figure is based.

Discussion has centred on the main (Wickhoff, Lanckoroncka, Tolnay) on groups in the COLLEZIONE ALBANI, and the COLLEZIONE CHIARAMONTE, sul colle Vaticano.

As noted by TOLNAY, the effeminate body of the BACCO is inspired by literary sources.

The poles of interpretation of the BACCO vary between those of Woelfflin ('er habe hier ganz ohne Zwang gearbeitet') and Tolnay, who identifies its subject as "the inner essence of the god BACCO as a cosmic symbol', and explains the three heads as representing death (the animal mask), the renewal of life (the satyr) and the decline of life (Bacco).

The permissible limits of interpretation of the figure are those established by CONDOVI.