Venus, Mars and Cupid in the Smithy of Vulcan

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A domestic drama unfolds here, as Cupid's arrows fly from both sides at the central figure, the goddess of love, Venus. Her husband, the blacksmith god, crafts fiery darts on her behalf, fueled by intense passion for her. However, Venus remains unimpressed and resists his advances, demonstrated by her carefree hardening of the arrow tips in a bowl of water. She is instead captivated by the arrow from Mars, the god of war, which she reciprocates with equal ardor. This mutual attraction is evident in little Cupid's placement between Venus and Mars, highlighting his dual role as both creator and product of their love - for Venus and Mars are indeed his parents.