Sandro Botticelli-Venus und Mars

1485? National Gallery, London

Selbes Gesicht wie in Venus

Wespen schwirren über Kopf von Mars, Anspielung auf Auftraggeber Vespucci (La Bella Simonetta Vespucci)

Satyrs—half-men, half-goats—frolic and tease the unarmed god. They steal his lance to poke an angry

wasps’ nest, blow a conch in his ear and stick their tongues out lewdly towards Venus. The meaning of the

allegory can be summed up as “when love is awake, discord sleeps” (or, indeed, “love conquers all”).