Venus c. 1530

Bernardino Luini's *Venus*, painted around 1530, depicts the Roman goddess of love and beauty reclining in a lush landscape. Luini, a follower of Leonardo da Vinci, employed soft sfumato and a delicate handling of light and shadow, characteristic of the High Renaissance. The composition, with Venus's relaxed posture and the distant cityscape, evokes a sense of tranquility and idealized beauty. The painting showcases Luini's mastery of depicting the human form, highlighting the goddess's soft curves and graceful pose.