Mars And Venus, Allegory Of Peace

Art is often valued based on the emotions it evokes, not simply its beauty, or level of perfection.“How does it make you feel?” is a prominent question in the world of art, and for good reason. The importance of an artwork cannot be defined lightly based on material aesthetics: The true beauty of a composition lies in its unity, discord, and solidarity. There are many instruments used to achieve this, whether it be light and contrast, colors, lines, or focal points. An artist that uses these themes to trigger calmness, or anxiety, and move the viewer emotionally, is truly talented. Lois Jean Francois Lagrenee harnesses the prowess of light, contrast, and color in the painting, Mars and Venus, Allegory of Peace, to create an epitome of tranquility.
The visuals of this piece are calming, and exude a feeling of contentment as you casually pass through the painting. The morning light featured in the composition brings forward images of peace and the dim remnants of night leave war and fighting in the background. A sleeping Venus is illuminated by morning light, resting on bright, clean white pillows. The light on her skin brings your eyes across her body to the spot of light casted on Mars’s shoulder. Mars’s arm brings your eyes to the muted
Mars and Venus are mythological gods depicted as ideal figures. Despite this idyllic representation, they are pleasant and without the exaggerated features that would be illustrated today. Completely relaxed Mars and Venus purely exist in their currently peaceful nature: no harsh light, strong edges, or prominent attributes. Everything is subtle in both shape, line, and color. Although the oil paints are rich, jewel-tones, they are muted and subtle, without strong focus on the coloring. Even the morning light, the most prominent instrument of the artwork which guides the eyes and develops the entire atmosphere of this portrait is subtle, soft, and