Mars seated at the left, his left hand on Venus's shoulder, cupid beside her at the right 1508

This 1508 engraving by Marcantonio Raimondi depicts Mars and Venus in a classically inspired scene. The image is a reproduction of a lost drawing by Raphael, demonstrating the important role of printmaking in disseminating artistic ideas during the Renaissance. Mars, the Roman god of war, is depicted seated, while Venus, the goddess of love, stands with her hand resting on his shoulder. The presence of Cupid, the god of love, further emphasizes the theme of romance and desire. This work, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, is a fine example of the technical mastery and artistic innovation of Renaissance printmaking.