Venus et Adonis
1772
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1772
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Venus et Adonis is a 1772 ink by Gérard Vidal, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows two naked women lying close together. One is on her back, reaching up. The other leans over her, holding her hand. Above them, three small winged figures float, looking down. The scene feels dramatic and soft at once—curved lines everywhere, but the faces are calm. The artist used shading to make the bodies look real and smooth. The lines are dark and precise, but the shadows blend into each other. It’s all done by hand, no paint here—just ink on paper. Want to see more like this? Look up etching, drypoint, aquatint.
