The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 21, 2025

Mars, Minerva, Venus, and Cupid

early 1500s

Valerio Belli

(Italian, c. 1468–1546)
Italy, 16th century
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.)
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund 2008.147
Location: 117A Italian Renaissance

Did You Know?

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

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.
  • Sold, Christie's, London, King Street, December 6, 2006, lot 90, to Guglielo Melodia.
    Guglielmo Melodia (London, England), sold, Sotheby's, London, December 2, 2008, lot 35, to the Cleveland Museum of Art.
  • {{cite web|title=Mars, Minerva, Venus, and Cupid|url=false|author=Valerio Belli|year=early 1500s|access-date=21 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2008.147