The theme of Bacchus and Ariadne is based on the classical authors Ovid and Catullus. The painting belongs to a series commissioned from Bellini, Titian and Dosso Dossi, for the Camerino d'Alabastro, (Alabaster Room) in the Ducal Palace, Ferrara, by Alfonso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara
, who in 1510 even tried commissions to Michelangelo and Raphael. This painting substitutes a painting from Raphael. Between 1518-1525 Titian painted also Worship of Venus
and Bacchanal of the Andrians
, both Prado for the Alabaster Room. In 1514 Giovanni Bellini painted 'Feast of the Gods'.