Venus and Mars
by SARACENI, Carlo, Oil on copper, 40 x 55 cm
The subject of this painting is an episode from classical literature about the loves of the gods. Mars, the god of war, falls in love with Venus and succeeds in meeting her in the palace of her husband, Vulcan. Saraceni depicts the moment just before the adulterous couple is caught by Vulcan. Saraceni used the love of Mars and Venus for two other well-known paintings.