Venus and Adonis

The work was part of the collection of the dukes of Contini Bonacossi. In 1955, part of the collection was donated by the heirs of the dukes to the Italian State. The work finds its counterpart in the canvas that represents Athena and Arachne, today in the same collection.

Originally octagonal in shape, later reduced to a rectangular format, both paintings are set from a bottom-up point of view, as if they had been designed by the artist to decorate a ceiling. According to the Pittaluga, both paintings come from the Palazzo Donà alle Rose in Venice. The canvas in question is engraved by Pittaluga (1925) as Amor fedeli and by Berenson as Venere and Adone (1957); De Vecchi (1970) instead indicates it as Diana and Endymion. Tintoretto has depicted the two lovers lying under a tree. Venus, half-lying and bare-chested, holds the little Love recognizable by a bow with an arrow. Adonis, facing the goddess, holds a spear in his hand, a rope with which he holds the dogs on a leash and ties the hunting horn to his right arm. Flying winged putti hold wreaths with roses. Then, the artist described the moment of the love affair between Venus and Adonis.