1560 (ca.), Paolo Veronese (Paolo Caliari), Venus and Mercury Present Eros and Anteros to Jupiter -- Uffizi Gallery (Florence)
From the museum label: The painting shows Mercury and Venus accompanied by Eros approaching Jupiter to seek his blessing for their son Anteros. The composition, developed in a horizontal sense, induces the observer to seek the figure of Jupiter enthroned outside his field of vision: the god is visible only from the knees down and is symbolised by the figure of an eagle. What we have here are the opposing forms of love, Anteros representing the positive and legitimate conjugal love while Eros stands for love in the shape of sensual or extramarital passion.
1560 (ca.), Paolo Veronese (Paolo Caliari), Venus and Mercury Present Eros and Anteros to Jupiter -- Uffizi Gallery (Florence)
From the museum label: The painting shows Mercury and Venus accompanied by Eros approaching Jupiter to seek his blessing for their son Anteros. The composition, developed in a horizontal sense, induces the observer to seek the figure of Jupiter enthroned outside his field of vision: the god is visible only from the knees down and is symbolised by the figure of an eagle. What we have here are the opposing forms of love, Anteros representing the positive and legitimate conjugal love while Eros stands for love in the shape of sensual or extramarital passion.