Venus and Adonis
Cornelis Cornelisz Van Haarlem
1603
In this dramatic Mannerist scene, the goddess Venus reclines in a lush landscape, gazing pleadingly up at her lover Adonis before he heads off on a fatal hunt. You can almost feel the tension as she tries to dissuade him from the dangers of the wild, while a chubby cupid and hunting dogs play at their feet, completely oblivious to the tragedy awaiting the handsome hunter. Van Haarlem's signature style shines through in the elongated, muscular figures and the rich, velvety textures of the drapery, capturing a moment of calm before the storm of Greek mythology.
Views: 5