Vulcan, Venus, and Eros
1508
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1508
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Vulcan, Venus, and Eros is a 1508 ink by Marcantonio Raimondi, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows three figures in a landscape. On the right, a bearded man with a hammer stands by a smithy, his body turned as if working. In the center, a woman in flowing robes leans toward a small child who reaches for a toolbox. Behind them, a town sits on a distant hill, with trees and a tall building on the right. The man’s rough, muscular build contrasts with the softer curves of the woman and child. The smithy tools and the child’s curiosity hint at a story about fire, love, and secrets. This is an example of engraving, a technique where artists cut lines into metal plates to print images.
