Keagan Giblin

At first glance, Botticelli's Venus and Mars may look like any other early Renaissance piece of art, but it is so much more; it is a stationary image of a story in time that carries messages still relatable in today's society.  

To understand the messages and meanings behind the painting, some background must be given to the artist. According to the National Gallery Website, Sando Botticelli was born in Florence, Italy, in 1445 and died in 1510. In his early career, he painted churches and cathedrals. Botticelli was known for his ascendant and reputation. His reputation allowed him to be summed by the Pope to Rome to decorate a wall for the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Botticelli is known for specializing in mythological subjects, says Caroline Campbell, Head of the Curatorial Department at The Jacob Rothschild. It is believed that from 1478-1490 was Botticelli's greatest period of pieces. Venus and Mars was created in 1485. The National Gallery's website on Botticelli explains that he combined decorative use of line with classical, traditional elements. 

Now turning to the painting itself. Shown above is Mars, God of War, and Venus, Goddess of Love. The story of Venus and Mars is that they were lovers who had a scandalous relationship. Venus was married to Vulcan, God of Fire, also Mar's brother, and later in the story, Vulcan exposes Venus and Mars' infidelity to all of the Gods and humiliates them. However, Botticelli chooses to capture a moment when Venus and Mars are still meeting in secret before their relationship ends. It is implied that this image was captured soon after Venus and Mars had sex.   

Venus is pictured as very much in control of her body. She is seen as elegant, regal, and alert. She is shown in charge and seems uninterested in her lover Mars. Botticelli's style here combines her fabric to her body in a physiologically impossible way; take a closer look at her braids.  

Mars is depicted here in a way to be humorous to the audience. He is shown lost in a deep sleep. Nothing can wake Mars. As you can notice, there are wasps near one of his ears, and the other ear has a conch shell that is being sounded by one of the naughty boys. Shown in the background are mischievous boys who appear to be playing with Mars' armor. Botticelli is further stressing how nothing seems to be waking Mars up from his sleep and how Venus appears unbothered from the whole situation.  

Through Venus and Mars, Botticelli is commenting on the complex sexual relationships that women and men have. Botticelli is not trying to say that women have more power over men, but he tries to communicate the specific nature that men and women have with one another. Venus and Mars is also significant because these Gods are pictured here in a somewhat humorous, amusing, and classical way. Botticelli is humanizing these Gods in a way that strikes our cores and allows for us mortals to relate. The National Gallery Website suggests that Venus and Mar is visually symbolizing the idea that love conquers all. By having Venus, Goddess of Love, alert and Mars, God of War, asleep.  

To conclude, Botticelli's Venus and Mars personifies powerful Gods and works to comment on women's and men's relationships by depicting a humorous scene.