$8.00
Card (Valentine): I Love You
Venus and Mars
Sandro Botticelli
tempera and oil on paper 69.2 x 173.4cm
Mars, God of War, was one of the lovers of venus, Goddess of Love. Here Mars is sleeping "the little death" which comes after making love and not even a trumpet in his ear will wake him. The satyrs have stolen his lance - a joke to show that he is now disarmed. Venus, however is awake and alert. The meaning of the picture is that love conquesr war or love conquers all.