The painting "Venus and Mars" by the great Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli is perplexing to many people and raises questions.
Sandro Botticelli. Venus and Mars
Why is she so long and elongated and does not fit into classical proportions? Why are the satyrs laughing at Mars, the god of war, who has failed to live up to Venus' expectations? And if the case takes place after a stormy night, and immediately after a love act, why is Venus modestly dressed in a muffled dress? The image of Mars does not raise any questions - it is immediately obvious that he tried his best, but his partner does not look like a woman who is satisfied and exhausted from love. Anyway, we'll see.
Sandro Botticelli. Pallada and Centaur
In the painting, the goddess of love Venus does not even look at her fallen asleep lover, and leaning her hand on the pillow, gazed somewhere in the distance, as if she had found something interesting there. Mars, on the other hand, threw his head back and fell soundly asleep, so that even the loud sound of the sink in which the prankster-satir was blowing could not wake him up. It is felt that he has given all his strength on the bed of love and is now resting from his "righteous labors". The situation is different with Venus - although she is relaxed, she is not exhausted, and maybe not even fully satisfied.
Sandro Botticelli. The Birth of Venus
And it immediately becomes clear that Venus is the victor in this love "duel". That is a serious allegory of the triumph of love over war, and creation will always prevail over destruction.
However, there are many humorous moments in this painting. Botticelli clearly mocks Mars by adding cheerful satyrs, who are given only an opportunity to joke about Mars falling asleep - they put on his knightly armor, which is obviously very big for them, which only increases the comic effect. Well, the most daring one brazenly blows from the shell under the ear of the god of war, and so loudly that it has disturbed the wasp hive and wasps began to circle over Mars' head, and maybe even bite him. But he still doesn't notice any of this.
Venus and Mars. A fragment of a painting
But what are the satyrs doing in the painting at all, could Venus and Mars not drive them away and indulge in love without unnecessary witnesses? Botticelli painted the picture based on a famous myth, according to which Venus cheated on her husband Vulcan with Mars. The latter found out about it and decided to play a cruel joke on them, and at the same time to disgrace them. He discreetly threw a thin transparent net over the lovers, which tied them to each other and invited all the other gods to their bed. Venus and Mars found themselves in a very awkward situation, they would have been happy to go somewhere away from prying eyes, but the net did not allow it. Botticelli simply replaced the gods with satyrs and added more comic relief to the situation.
Sandro Botticelli. Spring
And such a narrow painting because it is an interior element - Botticelli painted it for the Medici family - the richest and most noble in Florence. The Italians called such paintings spalliera, from the Italian word "spalla" - shoulder, because they were located at shoulder level. Often these frivolous paintings decorated the bedroom of newlyweds, and here Botticelli painted a half-naked Mars for a reason - it was believed that in order to give birth to a boy, a woman should look at the image of a handsome man before conception.
Venus and Mars. A fragment of a painting
And here is Venus dressed, moreover, it is impossible to remove her dress, because the braids border its neckline. She represents a young wife, and she should be modest and not appear inappropriately in front of strangers.
Venus herself reminds us very much of Simonetta Vespucci, a girl of marvelous beauty, with whom Botticelli was hopelessly in love. She was the first beauty in Florence and chose Giuliano de Medici over a not too rich and noble artist.
Sandro Botticelli. Portrait of a Young Woman (Simonetta Vespucci)
Only history has put everything in its place - many people know about Botticelli and his wonderful paintings, and Giuliano de' Medici is remembered mainly as the husband of Simonetta Vespucci.
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