Vulcan catching Mars and Venus in his net
Louis Chéron, c. 1695
Oil on plaster, ceiling of the State Bedroom
7.44 x 6.85 m
Vulcan catching Mars and Venus in his net
Louis Chéron, c. 1695
Oil on plaster, ceiling of the State Bedroom
7.44 x 6.85 m
The figure of Venus seems, on entering the room from the Second State Room, to be about to leave the couch, but from the door entering the Fourth State Room her position appears to be supine.
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to see animation of Venus and MarsThe ceiling illustrates the minstrel's song from the Odyssey, book viii, and shows the gods assembling to witness the scene. Iris and Mercury are above Neptune, Jupiter and Pluto, with Juno above to the right and Ceres behind. Hercules, Apollo, Pan, a satyr and Bacchus are situated to the left. The ceiling appears to illustrate the moment when Apollo asks Mercury whether he too would like to lie by Venus's side. Mercury's positive answer causes the assembled company further merriment. Only Neptune, not amused, offers to release Venus and Mars by paying the fine due to Vulcan. In the preparatory drawing in the British Museum and the oil sketch in the Tate Gallery, Bacchus's companion is shown as female, but the satyr in the final composition is more appropriate, for Homer clearly states that 'the goddesses constrained by feminine modesty, all stayed at home'. The figure of Venus seems, on entering the room from the Second State Room, to be about to leave the couch, but from the door entering the Fourth State Room her position appears to be supine.