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Nicolas Poussin

Venus and Adonis, ca. 1628

Now On View

Description

Maker

Title

Venus and Adonis

Year

ca. 1628

Medium

Oil on canvas

Materials/Techniques

Materials

Supports

Dimensions

76.2 x 101 cm (30 x 39 3/4 inches)

Signature / Inscription / Marks

Unsigned

Place

France

Type

Credit

Walter H. Kimball Fund, Georgianna Sayles Aldrich Fund, Mary B. Jackson Fund, Edgar J. Lownes Fund and Jesse Metcalf Fund

Object Number

54.186

About

The literature, philosophy, and art of the ancient world were dominant resources for French history painters. In the story of Venus and Adonis, Venus has been pierced by Cupid’s arrow and has fallen in love with the beautiful young hunter Adonis. They are lulled by the music of a lyre as they recline in each other’s arms. The clouds that shade the oblivious lovers also carry a portent of a narrative twist. Surrounding the lovers, a band of mischievous cherubs restrain a rabbit that is chased and ultimately killed by Adonis’s ferocious dog. Heedless of Venus’s warnings, Adonis will soon become the victim of a wild boar and succumb to a similar fate.

Unsigned

France
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Exhibition History

Exhibition History

European Galleries

French history painters relied on the literature, philosophy, and art of the ancient world as dominant resources. In this story, Venus has been pierced by Cupid’s arrow and fallen in love with the beautiful young hunter Adonis. They lie in each other’s arms, unaware that the clouds that shade them also portend danger. At left, a band of mischievous cherubs restrains a rabbit that will ultimately be killed by Adonis’s ferocious dog. Despite Venus’s warnings, Adonis also will die soon, the victim of an attack by a wild boar.

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Use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use. This object is in the public domain (CC0 1.0). This object is Venus and Adonis with the accession number of 54.186. To request high-resolution files or new photography, please send an email to imagerequest@risd.edu and include your name and the object's accession number.