Venus at Vulcan's Forge

Léon Davent

Associated Names
Léon Davent

Artist, French, active 1540 - 1556

This is a drawing of a group of figures working in a forge. The scene shows several muscular figures, possibly blacksmiths or workers, hammering on an anvil. The setting includes a stone archway and hanging pelts or fabrics in the background, contributing to the rustic atmosphere. To the right, a figure with draped fabric gestures towards the workers, while a winged child grasps a small container; an armor piece rests on the wall behind them. The composition showcases detailed line work and shading, emphasizing the robust musculature and dynamic postures of the figures.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    etching

  • Credit Line

    Gift of David Keppel

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 32.7 × 44.7 cm (12 7/8 × 17 5/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1947.16.1

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Zerner 1969, no. 67

Artwork history & notes

Exhibition History

1971

  • Fifteenth- and Sixteenth-Century Prints from the Rosenwald Collection, Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia, Fredericksburg, VA, 1971, no. 49, repro.

Bibliography

1969

  • Zerner, Henri. Ecole de Fontainebleau, gravures.Paris: Arts et Metiers Graphiques, 1969. English ed. The School of Fontainebleau, etchings and engravings. London: Thames and Hudson, 1969.

Wikidata ID

Q65080512

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