


The paintings, inspired by 17th century poet Giovanbattista Marino’s Adonis, depict the Stories of Mars and Venus in two pairs of matching works. This idyllic picture shows the goddess and her amorous tryst with the god of war. Set in original frames probably designed by Giocondo Albertolli, the oval paintings were intended to sit one above the other in the drawing room of an aristocratic Milan residence possibly belonging to a member of the Melzi family or to the Marquis Resta.

AUTHOR Andrea Appiani
DATE 1790 - 5
OBJECT TYPE AND MATERIAL Oil on canvas
DIMENSIONS cm 81 x 112
INVENTORY 7382
ROOM XXXVII
Work on display