Virtual Museum Milestone #4 - Compose Your Curator's Remark

By: Kelby Steinmetz & Yuxin Liu

Ares

Mars and Venus, Antonio Canova, 1817-1822

Yuxin Liu

The artwork I'm going to introduce today is the Mars and Venus sculpture by Antonio Canova. He carved two figures, Ares, the god of war, and Venus, the god of love. Among them, Ares holds a spear in one hand and embraces Venus in the other, representing war and love respectively. However, Ares is full of problems in Greek mythology. Whether it is the war he represents or the love he embraces, today I want to introduce the story behind him.

Although known as the "God of War", Ares's own combat ability and resourcefulness are not very advanced. In the Trojan War, Athena, who is often called the goddess of wisdom, was defeated and fled. To sum up, Ares, the God of War, is more suitable to be called the God of Violence. It is also because of the violent element in his character that he always wants to solve everything with violence. His bloodthirsty and warlike origins Here, his combat ability and wisdom are not worthy of the title of "God of War". In ancient Greece, where the gods are overflowing, there are almost no temples dedicated to Ares. Whether God or man, the world does not welcome him. In the famous book "The Iliad", he is described as a brave and invincible predator, and fighting is the only reason for him to live. He was also the only god to be defeated and humiliated by his own men. He is also a god who does things without thinking and rough means. Ares has once beaten a son of Poseidon to death because he conveyed his love to Ares’s daughter, which caused Poseidon to take Ares in front of his father Zeus for judgment.

Ares's spouse is Eris, the mother of the goddess of strife, and his mistress is Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, also known as Aphrodite in Greek mythology. By the way, Eris is the one who brings the golden apple to the wedding and caused the judgment of Paris on who is the most beautiful woman god which eventually becomes part of the trigger for the Trojan war. (Fond) Venus and Ares are mistresses and lovers and even gave birth to five children together, although they each have families. However, Hezhunstos broke through an affair between them and used the indestructible net he personally made as the god of craftsmen to hang them up and display to other gods, used to humiliate Venus and Ares, and finally came to an agreement with Ares that he would pay for his adultery by satisfying an arbitrary demanded compensation from Hezhunstos, then he let them go. However, the bloodthirsty, warlike, cruel, and ruthless Ares can only feel a moment of peace when he is in Venus' arms, and the gentle and affectionate Venus can't refuse the handsome and mighty "child" in his arms. Maybe that's why they're together.

Kelby Steinmetz

The “Mars and Venus” sculpture by Antonio Canova is a stunning work of art that portrays the Roman mythological figures of Mars (Ares in Greek Myth), the god of war, and Venus (Aphrodite in Greek Myth), the goddess of love and beauty, in a beautifully intertwined pose. Created in the early 1800s, this classical sculpture is a testament to the skill and talent of the Italian sculptor, who was able to capture the beauty and grace of the gods in human form. The sculpture is carved from a single block of marble and elegantly displays prominent features of the gods such as Mars’ muscles and Venus’ graceful flowing hair is truly amazing.

In Greek mythology, Ares and Aphrodite were notorious for their love affair, which was said to have been discovered by Aphrodite's husband, Hephaestus (Vulcan in Roman Mythology). Hephaestus created a trap that caught the two lovers in bed together, and then he exposed them to the other gods. In Roman mythology, the story of Mars and Venus is somewhat similar, however, they are often more depicted as a couple in art and literature.

Taking a look at the figure itself, one of the most striking aspects of the sculpture is simply the contrast between the two figures’ genders. Mars is depicted as strong and muscular, with his body poised for action. Venus, on the other hand, is soft and graceful, with very delicate features. Upon closer inspection of the sculpture, one can observe the meticulous attention to detail that the artist has put into this work. The smooth curves of Venus's body are in distinct contrast to the chiseled muscles of Mars, which is emphasized by the shadows produced by the marble itself. Despite their differences, the two figures are intertwined in a loving embrace, with Mars gazing down at Venus with warmth. I enjoyed this work because Canova made these figures feel extremely natural together which is an interesting and beautiful take given their desireful backstory.

The positioning of the figures in the sculpture is also intriguing. Venus is seen clinging to Mars’ neck with a loving and desirable facial expression, while Mars is standing upright, holding his spear. Mars, with his arm wrapped around Venus, looks at her with almost a prideful and powerful face that gives you the feeling that he sees her as a gem. These stances these two hold appear to symbolize the power dynamics between the two sexes, with Venus being the beacon of femininity and Mars representing masculinity.

In conclusion, the "Mars and Venus" sculpture by Antonio Canova is a masterpiece that symbolizes the complexities of their relationship. The level of detail and skill that Canova employed in creating this sculpture is impressive and makes it a work of art that will continue to inspire people for generations to come. This piece was overall an interesting reflection of the diverse ways in which the ancient Romans thought about war, love, and desire.

Works Cited

Antonio Canova (1757-1822) - Mars and Venus. Royal Collection Trust, https://www.rct.uk/collection/2038/mars-and-venus. Accessed February 14, 2023.

Fond, Maria La. “Lesson 7: Video 4 Destination Troy: Setting the Scene.” CLAS 430. CLAS 430, 17 Feb. 2023, Seattle.

Venus and Mars by Antonio Canova, HistoryOfArt.org, https://www.thehistoryofart.org/antonio-canova/venus-and-mars/. Accessed Februray 14, 2023.

Venus and Mars - the Collection. The Collection - Museo Nacional Del Prado, https://www.museodelprado.es/en/the-collection/art-work/venus-and-mars/4fd47f47-c3c5-42a3-a128-f2d4c6196b6b. Accessed February 14, 2023.