Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan

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On this oil on copper painting, Ares and Aphrodite lay in shocked distress, as Cupid and Apollo lift the dark-emerald green canopy to expose the two adulterous lovers. The two lovers lie in bed, partially covered by a sapphire-blue blanket. On the right of the bed stands the Pantheon of Greek gods, laughing at the adulterous couple. Hephaestus, the scornful husband of Aphrodite, stands to the side, hammering away. The sky is dramatic, dark colored with yellow in the gaps between the stormy grey clouds.
Ares (Mars) and Aphrodite (Venus) caught in the act of an affair and trapped in an invisible bronze net, crafted by Hephaestus (Vulcan), scornful husband of Aphrodite. Apollo and Cupid fly above the bed, exposing the two lovers to the ridicule of the other gods.

Full description

Dutch painting, oil on copper from 1604 - 1608 8 x 6 1/8 in. (20.3 x 15.5 cm).

Lovers Ares and Aphrodite lay in shocked-distress, trapped by the invisible bronze net crafted by the forge god Hephaestus, furious husband of Aphrodite. It was said that Aphrodite fell for Ares, as he was more masculine, handsome and mighty than her blacksmith husband Hephaestus. Ares would call for Aphrodite when her husband would work day and night at the forge, giving her many gifts and bedding her. Cunning Hephaestus hears word of the affair, and plots a trap to embarrass his unfaithful wife and dishonorable Ares. Upon ensnaring the two lovers in his bronze net, Hephaestus calls upon the attention of the other gods to mock them. Apollo and Cupid can be seen lifting the green canopy to expose Ares and Aphrodite to the ridicule and laughter of the gods. The oil on copper and the extravagant coloring of the bedding create a dramatic scene, fitting for the myth of Ares and Aphrodite's infamous affair.

Download image “Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan”
  • type
    Image
  • created on
  • file format
    jpg
  • file size
    54 MB
  • creator
    Joachim Anthonisz. Wtewael (Dutch, 1566 - 1638)
  • credit
    Purchased from a Private Collection in 1983, through Hoogsteder-Naumann, Ltd. (New York, New York) to the J. Paul Getty Museum
  • rights
    Image of painting available for download, without charge, under the Getty's Open Content Program
  • rights holder
    The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
  • rights territory
    US