Venus and Mars
1485 National Gallery
About this artwork
This panel painting depicts the mythological figures of Venus and Mars, with Venus observing a sleeping Mars, while mischievous satyrs play with his armor. The work is often interpreted as an allegory of love triumphing over war.
Did you know?
Botticelli's 'Venus and Mars' is thought to have been commissioned for a wedding chamber, perhaps celebrating the union of a member of the Vespucci family (whose crest featured wasps, possibly referenced by the hornets in the top left, though not visible in this crop). The playful satyrs disarming the sleeping god of war while Venus calmly watches suggests love's peaceful power over conflict.
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Venus and Mars
Sandro Botticelli, 1485
