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| "INO AND BACCHUS," DUBLIN MUSEUM. -One of the many fine creations of the gifted Irish sculptor, the late J. H. Foley, is the ideal group of "Ino and Bacchus" placed in the central court of the Dublin Science and Art Museum. The mythological story, briefly told, will enable the reader to comprehend the action of the characters represented in the model: Bacchus, the God of wime, was the son of Zeus, the Greek God of thunder and lighting, by Semele. The jealousy of the Goddess Hera, or Here-the Greek Juno-impelled her to counsel Semele to ask Zeus to visit her in his proper form. Zeus consented, and Semele was destroyed by the lightning which accompanied him. The child, Bacchus, was preserved by Zeus, who hid him on his person until he was properly matured, when he was consigned to the care of Ino, sister of Semele and wife of Athamas. The beautiful aunt cared for the helpless infant until, again, the fierce jealousy of Hera made both Ino and her husband insane. Zeus, in order to save Bacchus from his amiable spouse's fury, sent him into Thrace, where he was placed under charge of the Nymphs, and subsequently developed into the "Rosy God." In the group, the fair aunt holds a bunch of grapes between her right hand thumb and forefinger, and the baby opens his mouth and holds up his little hands in anticipation of a lucious treat, where the bunch of fruit beside him seems about to be crushed by his chubby limbs. The full and lovely figure of the benevolent Ino is the ideal of perfect womanhood. |
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