Vulcan and Maia

circa 1585, Artist: Bartholomäus Spranger

 

 

Vulcan and Maia

For this companion piece of Hercules and Omphale the artist chose the divine sphere as the setting for this erotically charged rendezvous. Repeatedly identified as Zeus, the bearded deity is, in fact, Vulcan, the god of fire and metalworking – this is clearly indicated by the pieces of armour and the sledgehammer. His female companion is generally identified as Maia, an ancient Italian goddess of spring, which would agree with her cornucopia and garland of corn. Spranger may have copied the lascivious pose of the goddess (who continues to live on in the name of the month of May) from an engraving by Agostino Veneziano depicting Cleopatra’s suicide. Inv.-Nr. GG 1128

Location: Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Kabinett 22

Object data

Object Name

Painting

Culture

Netherlandish

Dated

circa 1585

Artist

Bartholomäus Spranger (1546 Antwerpen - 1611 Prag) - GND

Material

copper

Dimensions

Overall: 22,2 cm × 17,5 cm × 0,1 cm
Framed: 34,5 cm × 29,5 cm × 3,2 cm

Image rights

Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Gemäldegalerie

Inv. No.

Gemäldegalerie, 1128

Provenance

Treasury of Rudolf II.

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