id:			166197
accession number:	2008.147
share license status:	CC0
url:			https://clevelandart.org/art/2008.147
updated:		2023-01-11 17:31:02.064000

Mars, Minerva, Venus, and Cupid, early 1500s. Valerio Belli (Italian, c. 1468–1546). Rock crystal intaglio, gilded from reverse with gold and silver, backed with lapis lazuli, mounted in a gold pendant; overall: 6 cm (2 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2008.147

title:				Mars, Minerva, Venus, and Cupid
title in original language:	
series:				
series in original language:	
creation date:			early 1500s
creation date earliest:		1500
creation date latest:		1550
current location:		117A Italian Renaissance
creditline:			Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
copyright:			

---

culture:	Italy, 16th century
technique:	rock crystal intaglio, gilded from reverse with gold and silver, backed with lapis lazuli, mounted in a gold pendant
department:	European Painting and Sculpture
collection:	Sculpture
type:		Sculpture
find spot:	
catalogue raisonne: 

---

CREATORS

* Valerio Belli (Italian, c. 1468–1546)  - artist

---

measurements: Overall: 6 cm (2 3/8 in.)
state of the work:	
edition of the work: 	

support materials:


inscriptions:

	inscription:	VALERIUS·VI·F 
	translation:	
	remark:		

---

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

---

LEGACY EXHIBITIONS

---

PROVENANCE

	Sold, Christie's, London, King Street, December 6, 2006, lot 90, to Guglielo Melodia.
	date: 
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


	Guglielmo Melodia (London, England), sold, Sotheby's, London, December 2, 2008, lot 35, to the Cleveland Museum of Art.
	date: 
	footnotes: 	
	citations: 	


---

fun fact:
Lapis lazuli, the stone used in this pendant, was first mined in Afghanistan 9000 years ago.

digital description:


wall description:
Mars, the god of war, chooses Minerva over Venus, goddesses representing Virtue and Vice. The subject was common in antiquity, although the male figure traditionally represents Hercules. The snake passing from Minerva to Mars lionizes wisdom, perhaps indicating that the patron, who has yet to be identified, connected the idea of a difficult choice to a specific military or political problem.
---

RELATED WORKS

---

CITATIONS

---

IMAGES

web:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2008.147/2008.147_web.jpg
print:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2008.147/2008.147_print.jpg
full:	https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2008.147/2008.147_full.tif