Venus and Adonis (Veronese)
Encyclopedia
Venus and Adonis is a painting by the Italian late Mannerist artist Paolo Veronese
, executed in 1580. It is currently housed in the Museo del Prado
in Madrid.
The current painting's size derives from a 18th century restoration, which removed lateral sectors which gave it, originally, a horizontal format.
.
It portrays the hunter Adonis
sleeping in Venus
' lap. In front of her is Eros
, with a sighthound
. Cupid is portrayed while trying to quench the dog's desire to hunt, as Venus had forecast that Adonis would die during a hunt.
In the background is a lively landscape, with a green- and blueshaded sky.
Paolo Veronese
Paolo Veronese was an Italian painter of the Renaissance in Venice, famous for paintings such as The Wedding at Cana and The Feast in the House of Levi...
, executed in 1580. It is currently housed in the Museo del Prado
Museo del Prado
The Museo del Prado is the main Spanish national art museum, located in central Madrid. It features one of the world's finest collections of European art, from the 12th century to the early 19th century, based on the former Spanish Royal Collection, and unquestionably the best single collection of...
in Madrid.
The current painting's size derives from a 18th century restoration, which removed lateral sectors which gave it, originally, a horizontal format.
Overview
The painting's subject is taken from OvidOvid
Publius Ovidius Naso , known as Ovid in the English-speaking world, was a Roman poet who is best known as the author of the three major collections of erotic poetry: Heroides, Amores, and Ars Amatoria...
.
It portrays the hunter Adonis
Adonis
Adonis , in Greek mythology, the god of beauty and desire, is a figure with Northwest Semitic antecedents, where he is a central figure in various mystery religions. The Greek , Adōnis is a variation of the Semitic word Adonai, "lord", which is also one of the names used to refer to God in the Old...
sleeping in Venus
Venus (mythology)
Venus is a Roman goddess principally associated with love, beauty, sex,sexual seduction and fertility, who played a key role in many Roman religious festivals and myths...
' lap. In front of her is Eros
Eros
Eros , in Greek mythology, was the Greek god of love. His Roman counterpart was Cupid . Some myths make him a primordial god, while in other myths, he is the son of Aphrodite....
, with a sighthound
Sighthound
Sighthounds, also called gazehounds, are hounds that primarily hunt by speed and sight, instead of by scent and endurance as scent hounds do.-Appearance:...
. Cupid is portrayed while trying to quench the dog's desire to hunt, as Venus had forecast that Adonis would die during a hunt.
In the background is a lively landscape, with a green- and blueshaded sky.