Mars and Venus, from Loves of the Gods
, 1597
10.1 x 7.7 in (h x w)
Engraving
The print series Loves of the Gods featured various stories of ancient Roman gods in intimate embraces. It was an enthralling theme for a print series whose blending of high art and erotica was appealing to early modern print collectors, like the one who added this hand-colored ornamented frame. Jacob Matham engraved this image after the design of his stepfather, Hendrick Goltzius, portraying a scene of Mars, the Roman god of war, who has been disarmed in an embrace by Venus, the goddess of love, in a possible allegory about the triumph of peace over violence. (SR)