Venus and Adonis from a set of Mythological Subjects after Raphael

Various artists/makers

Not on view

Her chariot just visible to the right, Venus, Roman goddess of love, is seated, attended by her winged putti-cherubs and a sun-weathered satyr. The older, winged youth brandishing a torch is perhaps meant to be Hymen, god of marriage. Venus turns to devote her attention to handsome mortal Adonis, apparently just returned from hunting, still bearing his spear, with a putto restraining his (beautifully observed) hunting hounds.

This tapestry is from a set of eight, traditionally called Les Sujets de la Fable d’après Raphaël, made for the French king, Louis XIV. The designs for all eight tapestries were inspired in part upon drawings then in Louis XIV's collection- now preserved in the Louvre- which were all, at that time, attributed to Raphael. The design source of the figure group is a drawing in the Louvre, depicting an allegory of sensual passion, now attributed to Giulio Romano.

Venus and Adonis from a set of Mythological Subjects after Raphael, Designed after drawing previously attributed to Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi) (Italian, Urbino 1483–1520 Rome), Wool, silk, silver thread (21-24 warps per inch, 8 per cm.), French, Paris

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Venus and Adonis from a set of Mythological Subjects after Raphael, Designed after drawing previously attributed to Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi) (Italian, Urbino 1483–1520 Rome), Wool, silk, silver thread (21-24 warps per inch, 8 per cm.), French, Paris
Venus and Adonis from a set of Mythological Subjects after Raphael, Designed after drawing previously attributed to Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi) (Italian, Urbino 1483–1520 Rome), Wool, silk, silver thread (21-24 warps per inch, 8 per cm.), French, Paris
Venus and Adonis from a set of Mythological Subjects after Raphael, Designed after drawing previously attributed to Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi) (Italian, Urbino 1483–1520 Rome), Wool, silk, silver thread (21-24 warps per inch, 8 per cm.), French, Paris

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