Offered by Antichità Castelbarco
Paolo Caliari known as Veronese (Verona 1528 - Venice 1588) Workshop/cercle
Idyll between Venus and Adonis with Cupid
Oil on canvas
96 x 67 cm - Framed 122 x 92
The subject of this painting is taken from classical sources and in particular from the Latin poet Ovid who, in his Metamorphoses, recounts the passion between Venus, goddess of beauty and love, and the young and beautiful mortal Adonis.
In love with her beloved, thanks to an arrow thrown by Cupid, the goddess would have decided to follow the handsome hunter everywhere in his hunting activities, no longer paying attention to the artifices of his charms and his usual occupations.
Although Venus never stopped urging Adonis to be careful while hunting against wild beasts, one day, chasing his dogs and ignoring the goddess's recommendations, the proud Adonis unfortunately died, wounded in the leg by a boar.
The author of our magnificent painting does not depict the tragic epilogue of the story, but rather the moment which precedes it, imagining Adonis - in his hunting outfit reminiscent of an ancient warrior - determined to leave despite the languorous embrace of Venus, trying to recover her bow, which the goddess took away from her with the complicity of Cupid.
The goddess is depicted here as a classical Venus, naked and facing the viewer, her breasts exposed, only a drape covering her pubis, while Adonis is depicted slightly behind her. Next to the two characters, little Cupid observes the idyll, almost intimidated, with a hunting dog at the bottom right already tense towards the imminent hunt.
The painting, which can still easily be placed in the production of the late Venetian Renaissance, is distinguished by the sensual interweaving of the gestures of the two lovers, even if what stands out is undoubtedly the sensuality exhibited in the nude of Venus.
Admiring the compositional choice and the stylistic details of the painting, we are inclined to attribute its authorship to the workshop or circle of Paolo Caliari known as Veronese (Verona 1528 - Venice 1588), who treated this subject in numerous variations and who, during a career of around 40 years, has relied on the collaboration of an active workshop made up of permanent members, as well as the collaboration of numerous so-called "occasional" external collaborators.
Delevery information :
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