Snuifdoos met Mars die afscheid neemt van Venus, terwijl Amor hem probeert tegen te houden c. 1750 - 1756

Laurence Hamond made this snuff box, a small container for powdered tobacco, from gold. The relief on its lid depicts Mars saying goodbye to Venus as Cupid tries to stop him. The choice of this mythological scene would have been recognized by elites of the time. Snuff-taking was a popular, upper-class habit in the 18th century, and ornate snuff boxes such as this one signaled the refinement of their owners. In that way it reflected the strict codes of etiquette and the visual language of class distinction. The message of the artwork speaks to contemporary values. While ostensibly an innocent depiction of classical mythology, the image of a reluctant Mars suggests a society in which the demands of war were starting to come into conflict with personal values. To understand this work further, we can research the history of luxury goods, class, and shifting social attitudes towards conflict.