The artwork, titled “Minerva Sending Away Mars from Peace and Prosperity,” was created by the renowned artist Tintoretto between 1576 and 1577. Rendered in oil on canvas, the painting belongs to the Mannerism movement, representing the late Renaissance period. Measuring 148 by 168 centimeters, this mythological painting is housed in the Palazzo Ducale in Venice, Italy.
The artwork vividly captures a mythological scene involving the Roman gods Minerva and Mars. In the painting, Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and war, is depicted in the act of pushing Mars, the god of war, away from two seated female figures who personify Peace and Prosperity. The urgency and dynamism of Minerva’s gesture contrast sharply with the resigned posture of Mars, who is clad in armor and holds a spear. The figures are painted with luxurious detail, emphasizing their expressions and the textures of their attire. The use of light and shadow in the work heightens the dramatic tension, typical of the Mannerist style, and underscores the thematic conflict between war and the desirability of peace and prosperity.