Mars and Venus Surprised By Vulcan 1601

Joachim Wtewael painted "Mars and Venus Surprised By Vulcan" in the late 16th or early 17th century, using oil on canvas. This work depicts a scandalous moment from classical mythology that would have resonated with the social mores of the Dutch Republic. Wtewael renders the gods as fleshy, all-too-human figures caught in a compromising situation. Vulcan, the cuckolded husband, ensnares his adulterous wife Venus and her lover Mars in a net, exposing their infidelity to the other gods. Made in the Netherlands, this painting reflects the rising merchant class and its complicated relationship to older aristocratic values. While the Dutch Republic was becoming a center of commerce, it still looked to classical antiquity for guidance on morality and governance. This painting can be further understood by researching the artist's biography, the patronage system of the time, and the evolving social attitudes towards marriage and fidelity. The study of art offers a window into the social and institutional values of the past.