Mars and Venus

In a lush landscape, Venus, Roman goddess of love and beauty, is attended by her handmaidens, the Three Graces, while Mars, the god of war, looks on admiringly. Cupids encourage his amorous attention, and two satyrs—lusty male forest deities—spy on the couple (look carefully for them peering from the bushes). The figures are inspired by Poussin’s study of ancient classical sculpture. The theme is derived from classical literature, which describes Mars as “disarmed” or “unmanned” by Venus—a symbol of love’s power to vanquish war. To illustrate this idea, Poussin shows Mars’s sword, spear, and helmet cast aside, while Venus uses his shield as a mirror.

Born in France, Poussin spent most of his career in Rome, painting relatively small pictures for private patrons. His art reflected his intellectual sophistication and his interest in classical order, dignity, and ideal beauty. His classically restrained images contrast with the more theatrical, emotional style of Baroque painters like Rubens (compare this painting with Rubens’ Crowning of Saint Catherine in this gallery).