Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan

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Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan
Italian: Amore, Venere e Marte
Jacopo Tintoretto 035.jpg
ArtistJacopo Tintoretto
Year1551–1552
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions135 cm× 198 cm(53 in× 78 in)
LocationAlte Pinakothek, Munich, Germany

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]

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.

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References

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