Artwork
Venus Wounded by a Rose's Thorn
Venus Wounded by a Rose's Thorn is a print by the Renaissance artist Marco Dente. It dates from 1516 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 1930.581
- Credit line
- Dudley P. Allen Fund
About this work
The rabbit at her feet is an old symbol of fertility, but here it feels out of place, almost like a silent witness.
A woman sits on the ground, pulling a thorn from her foot while a rabbit watches. She’s naked except for a thin cloth draped over her lap. The scene feels still, like a quiet moment in the woods.
This painting shows Venus, the Roman goddess of love, but not in a grand myth, just hurt and alone. The rabbit at her feet is an old symbol of fertility, but here it feels out of place, almost like a silent witness. The artist imagined this scene from a poem that never described it.
To see more quiet, everyday myths like this, look up Italy, 16th century.
Overview
Venus Wounded by a Rose's Thorn is a print depicting the Roman goddess of love in a moment of vulnerability.
Subject & Meaning
The scene is inspired by Bion's poem The Lament for Adonis, in which Venus is wounded by brambles while mourning her lover. The print shows her extracting a thorn from her foot, accompanied by a hare, an ancient symbol of fertility and desire.
Technique & Style
The composition presents a classical female nude in a serene, natural setting. A cloth draped over Venus's lap is her only attire, and the stillness of the scene creates an intimate atmosphere.
Context
The artwork reimagines a moment not directly described in Bion's poem, using the literary source as a starting point for a quiet, contemplative depiction of a mythological figure.
Artist & collection
Artist
Marco Dente da Ravenna (1493–1527), usually just called Marco Dente, was an Italian engraver born in Ravenna in the latter part of the 15th Century.
