Venus mourning Adonis, seated beneath a tree and embracing him, with Cupid at right 1781 - 1791

This etching, titled "Venus mourning Adonis," was created by Gérard René Le Vilain between 1781 and 1791. It depicts the Roman goddess Venus in a passionate embrace with the mortal Adonis, who has been fatally wounded by a boar. Cupid, the god of love, watches over them, his wings outstretched. The artist's meticulous attention to detail is evident in the nuanced expressions of the figures and the intricate rendering of the surrounding foliage. This engraving was part of a series of prints from the gallery of the Duke of Orléans, a testament to the popularity of classical mythology in 18th-century France.