One of the last great Venetian masters was Paolo Cagliari, known as Veronese (1528-1588). If we examine one of Veronese’s masterpieces, Mars and Venus United by Love, we see the brilliant use of color and sensuous female figures that influenced European artists (Color reproduction available at: http://www.burstnet.com/cgi-bin/ads/ad3785a.cgi/2295/ RETURN-CODE). We, too, are able to see the characteristics of mannerism, the style in which the painting is rendered, a form of art that rejected models from nature and natural appearance that influenced earlier artists and turned instead to the masters of the High Renaissance and Roman sculpture for their models. This rejection of naturalism was representative of the tension of styles during the period Veronese painted. Mannerism, as defined, equates to “A European art movement and style that developed between 1520 and 1600. It was a style that rejected calm balance in favor of emotion and distortion” (ArtLex 1).
Mars and Venus measures 81 x 63 3/8 inches (ArtLex 1). An oil on canvas, Veronese utilizes brilliant colors and rich textures in conveying the sensuous and mythical figures he is depicting ala those painted by Michelangelo during the High Renaissance. Huge in scale in addition to brilliantly colored, the work is at once impressive and impacts the viewer. The size and scope of the piece are meant to reinforce the impressive nature of its subjects, Venus, the goddess of love, and Mars, the god of war. The shimmering color of the work is culled from the entire spectrum. Veronese has painted the picture with lavish and sensuous images and intoxicating colors that match equally the intoxicating subjects. We have two cherubs and Venus painted in shades of white and skin-shades that are brighter than any other white tones used in the piece, including the clouds and the horse of Mars. Mars, by contrast, is in a golden tunic that is hued to be brighter than any else in ...