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Title
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De Venere cyprorum regina
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Description
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The goddess Venus is illustrated on the left side of the engraving wearing a crown and holding a long staff in her right hand. We can identify this figure as Venus as her name is engraved directly beside her in the top left-hand corner. 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 right-hand side of the engraving depicts Venus committing 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. 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.
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Image Creator
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Anonymous (Engraver)
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Identifier
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mta:11908
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Source Name
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De Claris Mulieribus
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Image
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mta_11908_OBJ.jpg
mta_11908_OBJ.jpg