Mars 1530

print, engraving

allegory

print

figuration

history-painting

northern-renaissance

nude

engraving

Lucas van Leyden's 1530 engraving *Mars* depicts the Roman god of war in a moment of contemplation. Mars sits slumped against a column, his sword held aloft as he gazes at Venus, the goddess of love, seated behind him. A winged cupid, symbol of love's power, reaches towards Venus, emphasizing the conflict between war and peace. The contrasting poses of the figures and their surrounding objects create a dynamic composition and reinforce the artwork's central theme. *Mars* exemplifies Lucas van Leyden's mastery of engraving, evident in the intricate detail and skillful use of light and shadow.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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By 1529, Lucas was influenced by Italian Renaissance art with its emphasis on monumental form. He became obsessed with the human figure depicted in bold form and confident pose. The engraving Mars, Venus and Cupid is typical of Lucas's late manner with its classicizing, sculpturesque nudes. The sensitive control of light and shade, plasticity of form and animated surface reflect the influence of the German master Albrecht Dürer and the Flemish painter Jan Gossaert called Mabuse, who were both influenced by Raphael and the Italian engraver Marcantonio Raimondi. Thematically, the composition is an allegory of love and strife. Venus expresses inner union and accord with the seductive gaze and posture of a temptress. In contrast, Mars represents disunity and discord bearing his sword and peering at the viewer. The sphere depicted in the left of the composition alludes to domination and instability --a love that is unsure. In essence, Lucas's composition is a moralizing comment on the sin of carnal love and adultery.