Venere der Künigin von Cypern · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Venere der Künigin von Cypern
Subject: Venus; Vulcan; Mars; Goddesses; Important Women; Famous Women; Roman Mythology; Brothels; Infidelity
Period: 1500-1550;
Geographic: Cyprus; Rome; Ancient Greece; Italy
Description: The goddess Venus is depicted on the right side of the engraving wearing a crown and holding a scepter in her left hand. Her son, Cupid, is depicted walking alongside her with his bow and arrows in hand. The left side of the engraving also depicts Venus as she commits adultery with her half-brother, Mars. They are illustrated laying down wrapped in each other’s embrace. Venus’ husband, Vulcan, is depicted walking in on the crime and trying to get Venus away from Mars. The city of Cyprus is illustrated in the background of the engraving. Boccaccio explains that Venus was highly adored in Cyprus as well as Rome, and he chose to write on her for her beauty. He criticizes her highly due to her invention of brothels.
Image Creator: Joerg Breu (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18250
Language: ger
Source Name: Ein schöne Cronica oder Hystoribuch von den fürnämlichsten Weybern [A beautiful chronicle or history book of reputable women]
Parent Collection: 1543 Stayner; 1543 Stayner
Image: mta_18250_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Venus; Vulcan; Mars; Goddesses; Important Women; Famous Women; Roman Mythology; Brothels; Infidelity