Follower of Luca Penni

A 16th century copy after Giorgio Ghisi's engraving after a design by Luca Penni, perhaps for a lost painting. The subject is most likely taken from Francesco Colonna's Hypnerotomachia Polifili, published in Venice 1499. Venus, perceiving her lover Adonis being chased by Mars, hurried to his rescue, but in her haste she scratched her leg. The goddess's blood turned the flower of the rose from white to red.