Jacopo Robusti, called Tintoretto, Venus and Mars Surprised by Vulcan, c. 1545, oil on canvas, 52 3/4 x 78 in. Bayerische Staatsgemäldesammlungen, Alte Pinakothek, Munich

Selected Works

From Cassone to Poesia:
Paintings of Love and Marriage

Venus and Mars Surprised by Vulcan

According to classical texts, Venus, goddess of love and beauty, who was married to the lame and elderly god Vulcan, had an illicit affair with Mars, the god of war. The sun god Apollo observed their dalliances and told Vulcan, who forged a fine, invisible net and placed it on the lovers' bed to ensnare them in the act; then he called in all the gods to witness their humiliation. Rather than illustrating this episode, Tintoretto has created an irreverent tale in the spirit of a burlesque farce. Vulcan searches Venus's bedclothes for illicit activity. Mars is alerted to Vulcan's approach by the reflection on his shield (propped on a bench against the far wall), which acts as a mirror; he peeks out from under the table to hush the yapping dog that threatens to expose him. The wit, eroticism, and theatrical allusions in this painting have been associated with Pietro Aretino, and it is possible it was created at his instigation. Tintoretto's circle of Venetian friends also included the writers of the popular press, who often dealt with the theme of marital infidelity and the folly of marrying a beautiful young woman.

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