Mars and Venus Trapped by Vulcan 1585 - 1599

This small, octagonal relief by Guglielmo della Porta, titled *Mars and Venus Trapped by Vulcan*, depicts a scene from Roman mythology. The sculpture is crafted from bronze and features a dynamic, swirling composition of figures, with the god Vulcan, depicted as a blacksmith, trapping the god of war, Mars, and the goddess of love, Venus, together. The piece showcases the artist's skill in rendering the human form and capturing a moment of intense drama, all within a small scale. *Mars and Venus Trapped by Vulcan* is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection of Renaissance bronzes.