Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan

Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan or Venus, Vulcan and Mars is a 1551-1552 oil on canvas painting by Jacopo Tintoretto, now in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.[1][2]

Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan
Italian: Amore, Venere e Marte
ArtistJacopo Tintoretto
Year1551–1552
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions135 cm × 198 cm (53 in × 78 in)
LocationAlte Pinakothek, Munich, Germany

The painting depicts a scene of extra-marital sex. The goddess Venus is lying nude on a couch whilst her lover Mars is hiding helmeted under a bed. Venus' husband Vulcan, tipped off by Apollo, has just returned unexpectedly and has become distracted by his wife's naked body, disregarding the warnings of his dog. Cupid is sleeping in a cot by the window.

References

  1. (in French) Daniel Arasse, On n'y voit rien, Denoël, 2000 ; rééd. Folio-poche, 2002 ISBN 2070427641
  2. "Catalogue entry" (in German).
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