Venus on the Chariot Pulled by Doves

Venus is depicted as a nude figure holding a billowing white veil, standing within a small, decorated chariot guided by pairs of harnessed doves. The central scene is framed by lush garlands of fruits and vegetables, while a cupid and a winged griffin occupy the adjacent triangular spaces of the vaulting. This composition is part of a larger decorative cycle illustrating the myth of Cupid and Psyche.

This scene belongs to a cycle based on Apuleius’s 'The Golden Ass,' which Renaissance Neoplatonists interpreted as a profound allegory for the soul's journey, trials, and ultimate reunion with the Divine. Venus represents the celestial beauty and the sovereign power of Love that governs the soul’s ascent as described in the works of Marsilio Ficino.