Have you ever desperately tried to hold on to someone who is already pulling away?
In this breathtaking sixteenth-century painting, Titian captures the exact, agonizing moment of heartbreak. Venus, the powerful goddess of love, desperately clings to her mortal lover Adonis. He is restless and eager to leave for a hunt with his hounds, completely oblivious to the tragic fate that awaits him in the forest.
Titian originally created this dramatic mythological scene for King Philip II of Spain. He intentionally painted Venus from behind as a clever contrast to his previous works, showcasing his absolute mastery of the human figure and rich Venetian color. The emotional compositio...