Mars and Venus Surprised by Vulcan
Jacopo Tintoretto
1552The painting depicts a scene of extra-marital sex. The goddess Venus is lying nude on a couch whilst her lover Mars is hiding helmeted under a bed. Venus' husband Vulcan, tipped off by Apollo, has just returned unexpectedly. Luckily for the adulterous couple he has become distracted by his wife's naked body, disregarding the warnings of his dog. Cupid is sleeping in a cot by the window.
