Bellona Presenting the Reins of his Horses to Mars 1766

Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée painted 'Bellona Presenting the Reins of his Horses to Mars’ using oil on canvas. Lagrenée skillfully renders the textures and details of the classical figures, from the sheen of Mars’ armor to the soft folds of Bellona’s robes. The process involves layering and blending of paints to create a sense of depth and realism, reflecting the academic training that Lagrenée received. Oil paint, developed centuries earlier, was by this point a key material in the fine arts. This was thanks to the work of skilled pigment-makers and paint grinders, who allowed artists to focus on composition and expression. The laborious aspects of artistic production were pushed into the background. The social context of the painting, reflects the values and interests of the French court, where such mythological scenes were very popular. By examining the materials, techniques, and social context, we recognize that the visual impact of 'Bellona Presenting the Reins of his Horses to Mars’ speaks to the historical and cultural values embedded in the artwork, beyond the surface.