Title

Der Ehebruch Martis und Veneris

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Ancient Greece

Description

This engraving illustrates the god Mars and Venus having an affair. They are depicted naked wrapped in each other's embrace on the left side of the image. The Sun god, who sees everything on Earth had seen Venus and Mars in bed together, and told Venus’ husband, Vulcan. In a jealous rage, Vulcan, the god of craftsmanship and fire, had created thin wires made from gold to fashion a net in order to trap the adulterers. Vulcan is illustrated in the image with his hands on the net, ready to trap Venus and Mars. In order to shame the adulterers even further, Vulcan had invited a group of gods to witness their humiliation. These gods are depicted in the background of the engraving, looking and waiting for the scene to unfold.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:21411

Language

ger

Source Name

P. Ouidij Nasonis, deß Sinnreichen und hochverstendigen Poeten, Metamorphoses oder Verwandlung, mit schönen figuren gezieret, auch kurzen Argumenten und außlegungen erkläret, und in Teutsche Reymen gebracht, durch Johann Spreng von Augspurg [Publius Ovidius Naso, the Ingenious and Highly Understandable Poet, Metamorphoses or Transformations, Adorned with Beautiful Images, and also descriptions of Short Arguments and Explanations, Brought into German Rhymes by Johann Spreng of Augsburg]

Parent Collection

1564 Frankfurt Spreng

Image

mta_21411_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Greek Mythology

Roman Mythology

Vulcan

Venus

Mars

Gods

Goddesses

Infidelity