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About This Work
This faint linear sketch depicts the tragic aftermath of the death of Adonis. Several figures are shown in various states of physical exertion as they support and transport his horizontal, limp form. The drawing focuses on the weight and anatomical tension of the figures, capturing the immediate pathos of the mythological event.
The myth of Adonis was a central theme in Renaissance Neoplatonism, particularly within the circle of Marsilio Ficino, where the youth's death symbolized the soul's descent into the material world and the 'mors osculi' (death of the kiss). This composition reflects the era's interest in the intersection of classical tragedy and the philosophical exploration of the soul's journey.
Connected Texts
Marsilio Ficino
Ficino's Neoplatonic interpretations of Ovidian myths often framed the death of figures like Adonis as allegories for the soul's relationship with beauty and mortality.