Venus Lamenting Adonis
c. 1608-1612
Medium
pen and brown ink on laid paper, laid down
Dimensions
overall: 30.6 x 19.8 cm (12 1/16 x 7 13/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1968.20.1
Art Historical Context
Behold *Venus Lamenting the Death Adonis*, a poignant drawing by Sir Peter Paul, created around 1608–1612 This intimate work captures mythological moment from Ovid's *Metamorphoses* where goddess Venus mourns her lover Adonis, killed a wild boar. Rubens, Flemish Baroque master renowned for dynamic compositions and sensual figures executed this during his early maturity, fresh from his formative years in Italy, he absorbed influences from Titian andaggio. Crafted in pen and brown ink on laid (30.6 x 19.8 cm), drawing exemplifies Rubens' virtuoso draftsmanship. His fluid, lines convey emotional...