Ancient oil painting on canvas depicting Venus and Adonis, “Boucher” area. France 18th century.

Ancient oil painting on canvas depicting Venus and Adonis.
The painting depicts in a sublime atmosphere the death of Adonis, the young man loved by Venus, mortally wounded by a wild boar during a hunting trip. The myth, taken from Book X of Ovid's Metamorphoses, tells that Venus, as soon as she hears the distant lament of the dying Adonis, descends to earth on her chariot pulled by swans, to assist him.
Venus is depicted lying next to her dying lover, the sinuous bodies close together seem to merge in the final pain, the tapered hands and long fingers outline the desperation of the moment, while the hunter's dog sadly witnesses the tragic epilogue.
Conditions: Excellent condition.

Provenance: 18th century France.