Tintoretto's 'Venus, Mars, and Vulcan'

'Venus Mars and Vulcan 1' by Tintoretto, 1551

 

The painting comes complete with a jovial love triangle and unforgettable characters. Venus' husband, the gimp-legged Vulcan, staggers into the chamber and finding his wife naked in bed, he yanks back the sheets looking for her lover. Mars, looking rather less than heroic, is hiding under the bed and attempting to crawl to freedom. Unfortunately, the loyal family dog barks out upon discovering the god of war. On the ledge... cupid... the little god of love/lust... and the cause of this all, feigns sleep while looking out of the corner of his half-closed eyes.


"Venus Mars and Vulcan 1" was painted in oil on canvas, having the following dimensions: 135 x 198 cm; it is dated 1551, when Tintoretto was 33 years of age. Thus, it may be considered an Early Maturity piece of Tintoretto.
"Venus Mars and Vulcan 1" is on display in Alte Pinakothek, Munich, along with other famous artworks of the Mannerism period.


Among Tintoretto"s other signed paintings, we note: "Venus Mars and Vulcan - detail", dated 1551 and located at Alte Pinakothek, Munich; - "Venus Mars and Vulcan - detail 1", completed in 1551 and displayed at Alte Pinakothek, Munich; - "The Liberation of Arsinoe", finished in 1556 and located at Gemaldegalerie, Dresden; - "Women Playing Music", dated [?], presently hosted at Gemaldegalerie, Dresden