Venus and Adonis, c. 1650, Nicolas Mignard (Mignard d'Avignon), French, 1606-1668, 147 x 89 x 6 1/2 in. (373.38 x 226.06 x 16.51 cm) (outer frame)107 1/2 x 69 11/16 in. (273.05 x 177.01 cm) (sight), Oil on canvas, France, 17th century, In Greek myth, Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, adored the handsome mortal Adonis. She warned him about the dangers of hunting, but he ignored her and was killed by a wild boar. Here, as he sets out, spear in hand and dogs in tow, she pleads with him to stay. Heartbroken at his death, she transformed his blood into anemones, the fragile flowers visible in the shadows behind her.