Venus and Adonis
C. 1585 - C. 1590
Spranger throws us right into the drama of Greek mythology with this twisted, elongated embrace. Venus is literally holding Adonis back, her pale skin contrasting with his reddish tunic, knowing that his hunting trip will end in a fatal boar attack. You can see Cupid in the bottom left corner aiming an arrow, perhaps trying to spark the love that is already failing to keep Adonis home. The background is a busy Mannerist dreamscape with a castle on a cliff and a satyr climbing a tree, typical of the sophisticated, slightly erotic style loved by Emperor Rudolf II in Prague.
- Technique
- Oil painting
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