Venus and Jupiter

Venus stands partially nude, gesturing toward a seated, bearded Jupiter who rests his foot upon an eagle and holds a long scepter. The scene is populated by white doves and winged putti, including one figure on the right carrying a caduceus, all set against a bright blue sky. This work is part of a larger narrative cycle depicting the myth of Cupid and Psyche.

Based on Apuleius’s 'The Golden Ass', this cycle was interpreted by Renaissance Neoplatonists as an allegory of the human soul (Psyche) undergoing trials to achieve divine union and immortality. The work reflects the 16th-century project of reconciling classical mythology with esoteric philosophy and Christian thought.