Page:Cyclopedia of painters and paintings (IA cyclopediaofpain04cham).pdf/358

 VENUS AND ADONIS, Francesco Albani, Louvre; canvas, H. 6 ft. 7 in. × 8 ft. 3 in. A cupid conducts Adonis, holding a dog in leash, to Venus, who lies asleep on cushions in the shadow of trees, watched by other cupids; still others bathe in a river, and two in the air are supporting a large white veil. Collection of Louis XIV. Engraved by Baudet; B. Audran.—Villot, Cat. Louvre; Landon, Musée, 2d Col., iii. Pl. 64.

By Guercino, Dresden Gallery; canvas, H. 6 ft. 7 in. × 8 ft. 3 in. Venus finds the dead body of Adonis; Cupid leads thither the boar by the ear. In Guercino's third manner. Painted in 1647 for Cardinal Mazarin, who ordered it as a pendant to Cephalus and Procris; belonged afterwards to Prince de Carignan. Engraved by L. S. Lempereur. Another (6 ft. 7 in. × 8 ft. 10 in.) in Dresden Gallery.—Gal. roy. de Dresde, ii. Pl. 23; Réveil, vii. 475.

Venus and Adonis, Rubens, Hermitage, St. Petersburg.

By Rubens, Blenheim Palace; canvas, H. 6 ft. 5 in. × 7 ft. 10 in. Venus, seated on a bank under a tree, endeavours to detain Adonis, who, spear in hand and his dogs by his side, is anxious to depart; Cupid clings round Adonis's leg. A grand picture of the artist's middle period. Presented by Emperor of Germany to John, Duke of Marlborough. Blenheim sale (1886) £7,200, to Agnew.—Waagen, Treasures, iii. 131; Smith, ii. 245.

By Rubens, Hermitage, St. Petersburg; wood, H. 2 ft. 8 in. × 2 ft. 11-1/2 in. Venus, just descended from her car, drawn by white swans, endeavours to detain Adonis, who, anxious for the chase with his attendant dogs, tries to remove her arm from his neck; Cupid aids the goddess by clinging to Adonis's thigh. Engraved by Tassaert. Similar subject, Hague Museum; engraved by Lerouge in Filhol.—Smith, ix. 302; Filhol, vii. Pl. 470; Landon, Musée, ii. Pl. 16.

By Rubens, Uffizi, Florence; wood, H. 3 ft. 2 in. × 2 ft. 8 in. Venus, seated on a bank at foot of a tree, endeavours to detain Adonis, who, spear in hand, is ready for the chase; Cupid embraces his knees, while the three Graces draw aside the crimson drapery which conceals her charms; five other cupids play with Adonis's dogs.—Smith, ii. 143; Lasinio, Pl. 82; Larousse, xv. 882.

By Titian, Alnwick Castle, England; canvas, H. 2 ft. 6-1/2 in. × 3 ft. 4 in. Venus, half-lying, half-sitting, with her back to the spectator, on a brown-red cloth on a mound shaded by trees, clutches at Adonis, who, with a spear in one hand and a leash of three dogs in the other, is striding away to the field. Probably the original sketch of this subject, painted about 1560; formerly in the Cammuccini and Barberini Collections. The principal copy, long in the Farnese Collections in Parma and Rome, has disappeared. Other copies with variations in Venice Academy, Vienna Museum, and at Leigh Court and Cobham Hall, England. The Leigh Court copy (H. 5 ft. 10 in. × 6 ft. 8 in.), which once belonged to Benjamin West, was bought in at Leigh Court sale (1884)