We are pleased to present this large Italian mythological painting, painted in oil on canvas in the first half of the 20th century. This splendid painting, depicting Venus and Mars on a rock, surrounded by the dancing Muses and other mythological figures, draws inspiration from a famous painting entitled "Parnassus" by the Italian painter Andrea Mantegna (Isola di Carturo, 1431 – Mantua, 13 September 1506). The original painting is a tempera on canvas painted in 1497 and currently preserved in the Louvre Museum in Paris. The original painting was commissioned by Isabella d'Este for her studio in the Palazzo Ducale in Mantua.
There is no indication of the author of the painting we offer you, but it is likely that he was an artist fascinated by the great masters of the past and with a fair mastery of the techniques that allowed him to create this large-scale work. Consider it a large painting with great scenic impact that conveys the intricate mythological and allegorical story it depicts. The work depicts the adulterous love affair between Venus and Mars, depicted on a natural rock arch in front of a symbolic bed. In the background, the vegetation presents numerous fruits on the left (male) side and only one on the right (female) side, symbolizing fertilization. There are many other allegorical symbols and mythological characters: Anteros, Cupid, Apollo, the dancing muses and Pegasus.
The painting is on canvas mounted on a wooden panel, accompanied by a majestic carved wooden frame which perfectly completes the painting, accentuating its scenographic effect.
Frame size (cm):
Height: 154
Width: 186
Depth: 10
Dimensions of the painting (cm):
Height: 137.5
Width: 170
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SILVER Seller in Alessandria, Italy
