Venus and Adonis - Atelier of Frans Wouters (Lierre 1612 - Antwerp 1659)

Venus and Adonis

Atelier of Frans Wouters
(Lierre 1612 - Antwerp 1659)

Oil on canvas
Contemporary frame
Canvas 116 x 87 cm
Frame 131 x 102 cm
Excellent condition

The myth of Venus and Adonis, narrated by Ovid in his tenth book, is the story of the passionate and unfortunate encounter between the goddess of beauty and the most handsome of mortals.
The painting depicts the moment when Venus tries in vain to restrain Adonis to prevent her beloved, who is about to go hunting, from meeting the terrible fate to which he is destined.
Adonis, after a night of love, heads towards the woods to hunt, while Venus, naked and reclining in a highly sensual pose, tries to stop him with an embrace, inviting him in vain to stay with her.
The handsome hunter, with a sculpted physique and a virile stance, is grabbed by his cloak by Envy, sent by the jealous Apollo, who, with a terrifying grin, drags him toward her.
The scene is set under a large tree symbolizing life, while the splendid group of the Three Graces represents beauty.
Some cupids help their Goddess in her attempt to stop the pack of dogs ready to carry their master, who will reach and spear the boar, which will fatally kill Adonis, biting him in the groin with its jaws.
Venus, hearing the cries of pain of her dying lover, rushes to him in despair and finds him in a pool of blood.
And here is the romantic twist to the story: from the young man's blood grow anemones, and from that of the Goddess, wounded among the brambles while running barefoot to help him, grow red roses.
The story of Venus and Adonis is a fascinating tale that combines love, beauty, and tragedy, reflecting universal themes that continue to resonate in contemporary culture.
The figures of Venus, goddess of love, and Adonis, symbol of fleeting beauty and the fragility of life, remain iconic in mythology and art.

The large canvas presented here offers a magnificent image of this episode, which was also depicted in various versions by the great masters of ancient painting.
The subject lends itself to a highly erotic depiction, highly appreciated and particularly attractive in the grand halls of stately homes.
In our case, the vision of the scene, already decidedly provocative for its time, offers, in addition to the irrepressible beauty of the Goddess, the magnificent naked bodies of the Three Graces, which captivate the viewer as much as the two protagonists.
The artist places great emphasis on the physicality of the figures, rendered with remarkable plasticity and a pleasing realistic effect.
The large canvas makes the work very dramatic, lively, and with an airy and perfectly distributed arrangement of the figures.
The painting is in excellent condition.
The gilded frame is still original.