The Dominion of Venus, from 'The Seven Planets'

Art Historical Context

Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's and Prints collection, where you'll find *The Dominion of Venus, from ' Seven Planets'*, a captivating 1533 woodcut by Italian printmaker Girolamo Grand. Measuring about 11½ by 7½ inches, this sheet exemplifies Renaissance printmaking techniques, where intricate designs were carved into wood blocks and inked for reproduction. Woodcuts like this were revolutionary, making elaborate imagery affordable and widespread across Europe. Part of a rare series personifying the seven classical planets—rooted in ancient astrology and mythology—this print celebr...