Goddess of love

Works by the Venetian painter Andrea Celesti can be found in numerous churches in Upper Italy and Austria, but he also left behind several paintings depicting mythological scenes.

The unsigned painting in the Landesmuseum Mainz has undergone changes in its attribution – between Pietro Liberi and Andrea Celesti – as well as in the interpretation of its subject, whether it depicts Venus and Mars or Venus and Adonis. The encounter between Venus and Adonis, like many of Celesti’s other paintings, is characterized by the contrast between powerful, sweeping movement and elongated, profound stillness. The beautiful goddess, expanding in space, appears entirely self-absorbed, introspective, and ultimately alone while Adonis and the cupids are purposefully advancing from behind. The colouring is reduced to earthy - brown, gray and green - tones and thus underlines the calm mood. The lines and modeling of the figures exhibit the characteristic Venetian sfumato effect.