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Venus and Adonis

After Teodoro Ghisi Italian
ca. 1570
Not on view
In his narrative poem 'Metamorphoses' Ovid tells us that Venus, grazed by Cupid's arrow, fell in love with Adonis and urged him not to hunt dangerous animals. Ignoring her advice, the handsome youth was killed by a wild boar. In antiquity, Adonis was worshipped as a god of the seasons who spent each winter in the Underworld and returned each spring, causing Venus, equated with the earth's fertility, to rejoice. In Ghisi's engraving, based on his brother's design, we see Adonis' dead body being nuzzled by the boar near a bare tree in the background. In the foreground, Adonis receives Venus' caresses in a verdant bower, his foot resting on the boar's head to demonstrate his victory over winter.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Venus and Adonis
  • Artist: Giorgio Ghisi (Italian, Mantua ca. 1520–1582 Mantua)
  • Artist: After Teodoro Ghisi (Italian, 1536–1601)
  • Date: ca. 1570
  • Medium: Engraving
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 12 5/8 x 8 7/8 in. (32 x 22.5 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1953
  • Object Number: 53.522.28
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
Madonna of Loreto, the Virgin lifts a veil above the Child, who lies on a bed and pillow, Joseph stands behind with both hands on his staff, Giorgio Ghisi Italian, Engraving; second state of three
Madonna of Loreto, the Virgin lifts a veil above the Child, who lies on a bed and pillow, Joseph stands behind with both hands on his staff
Giorgio Ghisi
After Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi)
1575
Lobster-Tail Burgonet, Steel, leather, gold, North Italian
Lobster-Tail Burgonet
North Italian
ca. 1610
Christ Carrying the Cross, Martin Schongauer German, Engraving
Christ Carrying the Cross
Martin Schongauer
ca. 1475–80
Christ crucified surrounded by mourning angels, Giorgio Ghisi Italian, Engraving
Christ crucified surrounded by mourning angels
Giorgio Ghisi
Publisher Nicolaus van Aelst
1575–79
Armor, Steel, copper alloy, textile, leather, Italian
Armor
Italian
ca. 1400–1450 and later

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