The Return from War: Mars Disarmed by Venus
Original title: The Return from War: Mars Disarmed by Venus
kurzbeschreibung
This 1778 engraving by Jean Jacques Avril the Elder, 'The Return from War: Mars Disarmed by Venus', reproduces an allegorical scene after a painting by Peter Paul Rubens. Venus is shown disarming the god of war, surrounded by putti and military equipment. The print is the second of two states and measures 40.5 × 50.8 cm.
Description
Mars stands in full armour, helmet included, in the foreground of a room that suggests a workshop or an armoury. The nude Venus has placed one hand on his head. Several putti crowd around the pair, carrying various objects. Cannon, shields and chains fill the rear area, while another figure lies on the ground – perhaps a sign of exhaustion or triumph. The layout is symmetrical, with the main figures at the centre and the military props pushed back; the colouring remains largely in shades of grey.
Context
This reproductive engraving was made in 1778 after a painting by Peter Paul Rubens on the theme of the love goddess disarming the god of war. Jean Jacques Avril the Elder was a French engraver who specialised in reproducing famous paintings. According to the Dutuit catalogue, it is the second of two states. Such graphic copies made well-known artworks accessible to a wider public in the 18th century.
Impact
A sombre, serious mood emanates from the etching, reinforced by the dark grey tones and detailed structure. The symmetrical arrangement and central placement of the figures give the print a monumental effect. The contrast between Mars's armoured appearance and Venus's nudity highlights the allegorical tension between war and love.
Technique
The work is an etching, an intaglio process in which the drawing is scratched into a wax layer on a copper plate and then bitten with acid. Avril used fine lines and hatching to achieve effects of light and shadow. The print was made on paper and then trimmed to 40.5 × 50.8 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)