Artwork
Venus Commanding Vulcan to Make Arms for Aeneas
Venus Commanding Vulcan to Make Arms for Aeneas is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Johann Gottlieb Prestel. It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Venus Commanding Vulcan to Make Arms for Aeneas is a print created by Johann Gottlieb Prestel in 1788, combining etching, aquatint, and drypoint techniques on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a scene from mythology, showing a female figure, likely Venus, floating above a bearded male figure, probably Vulcan, who is surrounded by attendant figures and tools, suggesting a narrative related to craftsmanship or martial preparation.
Technique & Style
The image is characterized by rich, layered tones achieved through the combination of etching, drypoint, and aquatint, with swirling lines evoking clouds and conveying a sense of dynamic movement.
Artist & collection
