Venus and Adonis
Workshop of Frans Wouters
(Lier 1612 – Antwerp 1659)
Oil on canvas
Contemporary frame
Canvas cm. 116 x 87
Frame cm. 131 x 102
Excellent condition
The painting is a mirror image of Wouters' work housed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
The myth of Venus and Adonis, narrated by Ovid in his tenth book, is the story of the overwhelming and unhappy encounter between the goddess of beauty and the most beautiful of mortals.
The painting depicts the moment when Venus tries in vain to hold Adonis back, to prevent her beloved, on the verge of going hunting, from meeting the terrible fate to which he is destined.
Adonis, after a night of love, heads to the woods to hunt, while Venus, naked and lying in a highly sensual pose, tries to stop him with an embrace, uselessly inviting him to stay with her.
The handsome hunter, with a sculpted physique and in a virile attitude, is grabbed by the cloak by Envy, sent by the extremely jealous Apollo, who with a dreadful grin drags him towards himself.
The scene is set under a large tree symbolizing life, while the splendid group of the Three Graces represents beauty.
Some cupids help their Goddess in her attempt to stop the pack of dogs ready to lead their master to encounter and strike the boar with his spear, which will fatally manage to kill Adonis by biting him in the groin.
Venus, hearing the cries of pain of her dying lover, rushes desperately and finds him in a pool of blood.
And here is the romantic twist to the story; anemones grow from the young man's blood, and red roses bloom from the blood of the Goddess, wounded among the brambles as she ran barefoot to succor him.
The story of Venus and Adonis is a fascinating tale that combines love, beauty, and tragedy, reflecting universal themes that continue to resonate in contemporary culture.
The figure of Venus, goddess of love, and that of Adonis, symbol of fleeting beauty and the fragility of life, remain iconic in mythology and art.
The large canvas presented here offers a magnificent depiction of this episode, which has also been described in various versions by the great masters of ancient painting.
The subject lends itself to a highly erotic depiction, much appreciated and particularly attractive in the grand halls of stately palaces.
In our case, the vision of the scene, already quite provocative for those times, besides the abundant beauty of the Goddess, also offers the magnificent nude bodies of the Three Graces, which attract the viewer just as much as the two protagonists.
The Author indeed focuses a lot on the physicality of the figures, rendered with remarkable plasticity and a pleasant realistic effect.
The large size of the canvas makes the work very spectacular, dynamic, and with an airy and perfectly distributed arrangement of characters.
The painting is in excellent condition, complete with its original gilded frame.
We issue a stamped and signed certificate of authenticity, guaranteeing the period, origin, and all characteristics of the work, drawn up by an antiquarian affiliated with FIMA (ITALIAN FEDERATION OF ART MERCHANTS).
Delivery in Italy and throughout Europe within 3 days of receipt of bank transfer.
If the distance allows, we deliver the work directly; otherwise, we rely on specialized couriers.
The shipment is tracked and insured and travels with careful shockproof packaging inside a custom-made wooden crate.
Price negotiable and possibility of installment payments to be agreed upon.
All photographic details on click link: https://www.antichitaischia.it/it/prodotto/-venere-e-adone-
