Where can I see Roundel of The Planet Venus and Her Children?

Roundel of The Planet Venus and Her Children is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Roundel of The Planet Venus and Her Children?

Roundel of The Planet Venus and Her Children is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

Roundel of The Planet Venus and Her Children

Roundel of The Planet Venus and Her Children is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1520 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

At its centre lies a reclining female figure clutching a golden cup, surrounded by a gathering of figures who stand, kneel or reach toward her.

The work titled *Roundel of The Planet Venus and Her Children* is a circular painted composition. At its centre lies a reclining female figure clutching a golden cup, surrounded by a gathering of figures who stand, kneel or reach toward her. The scene is set against a backdrop that includes a building, trees and distant diminutive figures, rendered in a palette dominated by bright yellows and whites on a weathered, cracked surface.

Subject & Meaning

The central woman is presented as a focal deity, identified with Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. The inclusion of a golden cup may allude to ritual or abundance, while the surrounding attendants suggest a ceremonial or mythological gathering, emphasizing the planet’s symbolic association with fertility and the nurturing of offspring.

Technique & Style

The painting employs chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts of light and shadow to model forms and create a sense of depth within the round format. The bright, saturated yellows and whites are set against a muted, cracked ground, enhancing the three‑dimensionality of the figures and highlighting the central goddess. The composition balances activity and symmetry, guiding the eye toward the cup‑holding figure.

History & Provenance

Specific details regarding the date, artist and ownership history of the roundel are not provided in the source material. Consequently, the work’s provenance, exhibition record and any changes of collection remain undocumented in the available information.

Context

Roundels were often used in decorative cycles during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, serving both ornamental and narrative functions. Depicting planetary deities aligns with the period’s interest in astrology and allegorical representation, where Venus symbolized love, beauty and the generative forces of nature.

Artist & collection

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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