| Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan | |
|---|---|
| Italian: Amore, Venere e Marte | |
 | |
| Artist | Jacopo Tintoretto |
| Year | 1551–1552 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 135 cm × 198 cm (53 in × 78 in) |
| Location | Alte Pinakothek, Munich |
Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan or Venus, Vulcan and Mars is a 1551-1552 oil on canvas painting by Jacopo Tintoretto, now in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.[1][2]
The painting depicts a scene of adultery. The goddess Venus is lying nude on a couch whilst her lover Mars is hiding helmeted under a bed. Venus' husband Vulcan, tipped off by Apollo, has just returned unexpectedly and has become distracted by his wife's naked body, disregarding the warnings of his dog. Cupid is sleeping in a cot by the window.[3][4]
- ^ (in French) Daniel Arasse, On n'y voit rien, Denoël, 2000 ; rééd. Folio-poche, 2002 ISBN 2070427641
- ^ "Catalogue entry" (in German).
- ^ Simone Facchinetti, Peterzano, Accademia Carrara, 2020, pp. 136-139 (Italian)
- ^ Pierluigi De Vecchi, L'opera completa del Tintoretto, Milano, Rizzoli, 1970 (Italian)