Without Ceres and Bacchus, Venus Would Freeze

Jacob Matham after Hendrik Goltzius

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a classical mythological scene. The artwork depicts three nude figures engaged in an earthy, revelrous setting. One figure, on the left, is crowned with grapevines and holding a goblet aloft. The central female figure is adorned with jewelry and gazes away, her arm forming an arch over a cask, while the figure on the right, with wings, holds clusters of grapes and other foliage. They appear surrounded by lush fruit and a rich landscape, including a detailed tree in the background. The scene is highly detailed, with an emphasis on musculature and classical drapery.