Mars and Venus United by Love Veronese (Paolo Cagliari) (1528-1588)

Description of Paolo Veronese’s painting Mars and Venus

Paolo Veronese was a prominent representative of the Venetian school of painting. There were quite a few famous artists there. Paolo Veronese stood out brightly among them. He created many picturesque canvases on mythological themes. Bright, expressive, extraordinary in beauty canvas "Mars and Venus" is a masterpiece, recognized throughout the world.

The painting is also distinguished by the fact that it has many titles. These are "Mars and Venus, Bound by Love," "Mars, seducing Venus," "Venus and Mars, bound by Cupid" and many others. The artist painted the picture in the seventies of the 16th century. Now it is exhibited in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.

There is speculation that this painting was commissioned by Veronese by Rudolph II, the emperor, for the day on which he was to be crowned. The painting reveals a mythological subject in which the main characters are the gods of the ancient world. Mars and Venus are in the center of the painting, with Cupid nestled at her feet.

Mars, virile, militant, ventures into battle, here, next to Venus, beautiful, extremely feminine, erotically attractive, calm, even subdued, thoughtful. And Cupid seals their love union by tying a silk ribbon around their legs. All the characters in the painting, the horse, Cupid, Satyr and the main characters are a majestic hymn to Love.

The horse here is a symbol of passion, Cupid is the deity of Love in ancient Greek mythology, Satyr, who symbolizes lust, is held tightly by the stone so that Satyr does not interfere with the pure feeling of love of Mars and Venus.

Everything in this picture breathes with sublime love. Cupid with a sword stands in front of the horse (base passion), keeping it out of Love, Satyr (lust) keeps out the stone, which seems to have absorbed the servant Bacchus into itself. However, the erotic sensuality is not only felt in the naked Venus. Her beautiful femininity is emphasized by the thread of pearls in her blond hair, the pearl necklace around her neck and the gold bracelets on both hands.

The viewer literally touches, feels in person the silky smoothness of the horse, the weight of the cloak hanging from Mars’ shoulder, and feels the warmth of white marble. From the affectionate gesture of Venus (her hand rests calmly on Mars’ shoulder) comes tenderness.

Paolo Veronese, that Master, here too, painted the spirit of luxurious, affluent and affluent Venice, a city of celebration with its famous carnivals and 16th-century piers.