French school; c. 1810.

French school; c. 1810.
"Venus and Jupiter."
Oil on mahogany board.
Measurements: 9 cm (diameter); 17.5 cm (frame).
Formally it is inscribed within the academicism, and therefore follows classical rules of which the first is the great technical quality. Thus, the drawing is rigorous and firm, of great anatomical perfection. The academicism is a direct inheritance of classicism, and hence the predilection for themes such as the one presented here, taken from mythology, although captured from a sensual and decorative point of view far from the solemnity of ancient classical art. Hence also the way of approaching the theme of Venus and Jupiter, which starts from an ideal of beauty far from reality, although it is undeniable the study of the natural by the painter, but it is an idealism.
The relationship between Venus and Jupiter has been understood, throughout history, as one of the most beneficial alliances within the mythological, astrological and symbolic imaginary of the West.
In Roman mythology, Venus, goddess of love, harmony and attraction, embodies the ability to seduce, unite and generate bonds through beauty and affection. Jupiter, on the other hand, is the supreme god, associated with power, law, expansion and protection. Their relationship is not based solely on romance, but on a dynamic of recognition: Jupiter legitimizes and magnifies Venusian values, while Venus softens and humanizes Jupiterian authority. The result is a balance between pleasure and meaning, between enjoyment and transcendence.