Large oil painting on canvas by Andrea Mantegna

We are pleased to present this large Italian mythological painting, painted in oil on canvas in the first half of the 20th century. This splendid painting, depicting Venus and Mars on a rock, surrounded by the dancing Muses and other mythological figures, draws inspiration from a famous painting entitled "Parnassus" by the Italian painter Andrea Mantegna (Isola di Carturo, 1431 – Mantua, September 13, 1506). The original painting is a tempera on canvas painted in 1497 and currently housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris. The original painting was commissioned by Isabella d'Este for her study in the Ducal Palace in Mantua. The artist of the painting we offer is unknown, but it is likely an artist fascinated by the great masters of the past and with a good command of the techniques that allowed him to create this large-scale work. Consider it a large-scale painting with a powerful visual impact that conveys the intricate mythological and allegorical story it depicts. The work depicts the adulterous love affair between Venus and Mars, depicted on a natural rock arch in front of a symbolic bed. In the background, the vegetation features numerous fruits on the left (male) side and a single one on the right (female), symbolizing fertilization. Many other allegorical symbols and mythological characters are present: Anteros, Cupid, Apollo, the dancing muses, and Pegasus. The painting is on canvas mounted on a wooden panel, accompanied by a majestic carved wooden frame that perfectly complements the painting, accentuating its scenographic effect. Frame dimensions (cm): Height: 154 Width: 186 Depth: 10 Painting width (cm): Height: 137,5 Width: 170