Venus and Adonis by Titian Ovids Metamorphoses What

Venus and Adonis by Titian

Ovid's Metamorphoses What makes for a good story? Love, adventure, and tragedy make a story exciting. The story of Venus and Adonis is one such tale. Venus, the goddess of love, fell in love with the handsome hunter Adonis, who was a bit of a snob, believed he was the best hunter in the world and that nothing could ever happen to him. One day Venus dreamed that Adonis had an accident while hunting. She rushed to try to prevent him from going off to hunt, but Adonis ignored her. He thought Venus was crazy to believe in such dreams. Unfortunately, Venus's dream came true: during the hunt, a wild pig with large tusks killed Adonis. A heartbroken Venus had to watch her poor Adonis die because he did not listen to her warning.

1. Titian, Italian, about 1555 – 1560, oil on canvas, 160 x 201 cm, the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA 2. Hendrick de Clerck, Flemish, about 1600, 160 x 146. 7 cm Medium, oil on canvas, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia, USA 3. Simon Vouet, French, about 1642, 131 x 94 cm, the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA 4. Sir Anthony van Dyck, Flemish, 1635 -1640, medium, oil on canvas, 173. 5 x 173. 5 cm, private collection

youth, boyish AGE APPEARANCE Titian, Italian, about 1555 – 1560, oil on canvas 160 x 201 cm, the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA ADONIS CLOTHES ARMS Simon Vouet, French, about 1642, 131 x 94 cm, the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, curly-headed, muscular, shadow of a mustache, handsome hunter Hendrick de Clerck, Flemish, about 1600, 160 x 146. 7 cm Medium, oil on canvas, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia, USA draped in pink, feet are bare, a rose and white tunic, leggings of animal hide wearing a flesh-colored armor, clutching a six-foot spear, Sir Anthony van Dyck, Flemish, 1635 -1640, Medium, oil on a quiver canvas, 173. 5 x 173. 5 cm, private collection

AGE Titian, Italian, about 1555 – 1560, oil on canvas, 160 x 201 cm, the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA goddess of love, young a nude figure, blond hair, APPEARANCE her back toward us, rosy cheeks, awkward pose, her arms around Adonis's chest, like an anchor, skin is porcelain Hendrick de Clerck, Flemish, about 1600, 160 x 146. 7 cm Medium, oil on canvas, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia, USA VENUS CLOTHES Simon Vouet, French, about 1642, 131 x 94 cm, the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, strings of pearls, partially robed in yellow Sir Anthony van Dyck, Flemish, 1635 -1640, Medium, oil on canvas, 173. 5 x 173. 5 cm, private collection

dog Titian, Italian, about 1555 – 1560, oil on canvas, 160 x 201 cm, the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA SYMBOLS cupid spear Simon Vouet, French, about 1642, 131 x 94 cm, the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, loyalty, strain at their leashes. Adonis’s impatience Hendrick de Clerck, Flemish, about 1600, 160 x 146. 7 cm Medium, oil on canvas, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia, USA love, sleeps-Adonis's resistance hunting, is about to pull away Sir Anthony van Dyck, Flemish, 1635 -1640, Medium, oil on canvas, 173. 5 x 173. 5 cm, private collection

weather/ landscape Titian, Italian, about 1555 – 1560, oil on canva, s 160 x 201 cm, the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA colours/ shades woodland scene, blue sky, storm clouds, sunlight bursts through, lush landscape richness of color, exquisite brushwork, influential style, loose, energetic strokes COMPOSITION Hendrick de Clerck, Flemish, about 1600, 160 x 146. 7 cm Medium, oil on canvas, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia, USA in the background, at center, location in the foreground, in the lower left corner, directly before the viewer Simon Vouet, French, about 1642, 131 x 94 cm, the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, action dynamic, their figures dominate, the contrasting poses, decorative richness Sir Anthony van Dyck, Flemish, 1635 -1640, Medium, oil on canvas, 173. 5 x 173. 5 cm, private collection

1. Titian, Italian, about 1555 – 1560, oil on canvas, 160 x 201 cm, t the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA 2. Hendrick de Clerck, Flemish, about 1600, 160 x 146. 7 cm Medium, oil on canvas, Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia, USA 3. Simon Vouet, French, about 1642, 131 x 94 cm, the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, USA 4. Sir Anthony van Dyck, Flemish, 1635 -1640, Medium, oil on canvas, 173. 5 x 173. 5 cm, private collection