De venus: hermosa diosessa hija de Jupiter · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: De venus: hermosa diosessa hija de Jupiter
Subject: Famous Women; Gods; Goddesses; Venus; Roman Mythology; Brothels; Infidelity; Important Women
Period: 1450-1500;
Geographic: Ancient Rome; Ancient Greece; Italy; Cyprus
Description: The goddess Venus is depicted on the right-hand side of the engraving wearing a crown and holding a long staff in her left hand. We can identify this figure as Venus as her name is engraved directly beside her. Her son, Cupid, is depicted walking alongside her with his bow and arrows in hand and his wings erected in the air. His name is engraved by his feet. The left-hand side of the engraving also depicts Venus as she commits adultery with her half-brother, Mars. Mars’ name is engraved just above Venus’ head. Boccaccio explains that Venus’ husband, Vulcan, had walked in on the adulterous crime, which is what the engraving is illustrating. Vulcan’s name is engraved behind him as Vulcanus. There are unidentified figures in the background of the engraving in the top left-hand corner. 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: Anonymous (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:14482
Language: spa
Source Name: De Las Mujeres Ilustres [On Famous Women]
Parent Collection: 1494 Mujeres Ilustres
Image: mta_14482_OBJ.png