The Lovers
| Support Type: | Canvas |
| Paint Type: | Oil Paint |
| Current Location: | State Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg, Russia. |
| Location History: | Nowadays, it is kept in the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg (Russia). It is unclear what its original location and ownership was, as the history is not completely known. It might have been ordered by Federico Gonzaga, who was famous for his penchant on erotic art. The painting was purchased by Johann Friedrich Reiffenstein from the London dealer Thomas Jenkins and came to the collection of Catherine the Great. It was originally painted on a wooden panel, but in 1834 this was transferred to canvas by the restorer A. Mitrokhin. Due to the sensitive material, it was not exhibited publicly for many years, and suffered from poor storage conditions, causing significant damage such as breaks in the canvas and loss of paint and varnish. It was only in 1920 that the painting was shown to the public at the Hermitage. The meaning of its composition and its title were altered numerous times over the years; the first catalogue called it Gallant Scene, the second Mars and Venus, and the third Alexander and Roxane. It's commonly referred to as The Lovers or Two Lovers today. |
The Lovers is a man and woman intimately engaged on a beautifully adorned bed. The couple are signed up in a lavishly furnished interior, with the bed and objects surrounding it creating a private and sensual ambiance, as presented by Giulio Romano. The carved bed is particularly striking, with its heavy legs incorporating satyr heads, adding a classical and playful element to the scene. The couple must be engaged, as an older woman can be seen in the background, looking through a door. Her presence adds to the mystery and implies that the encounter is happening in private. The door is partially closed or bolted, adding to the intimacy of the scene. Giulio Romano teems with incidental detail, which adds to the story nature of the composition. A cat and a dog are included in the domestic setting, and objects like keys, a ring, a hanging sleeve and other clothes are scattered around the room. This information gives the scene a sense of intimacy, as opposed to being a historical or religious subject. The figures are depicted with sculptural poses and bodies, typical of Giulio Romano's work, which had a deep interest in classical art. The composition has been named after representations of Venus and Adonis in the ancient Roman culture, indicating a blend of classical art forms and subject matter. The painting is also being called valuable due to its association with Giulio Romano's erotic series that was executed in the 1520s. Most likely, this was a private luxury painting, not meant for public or religious uses. The work therefore is inspired by the Renaissance interest in classical culture, sensuality, private patronage, and the human body. In general, The Lovers has a blend of classical influence, personal narrative, decorative flourishes, and an appreciation for human emotion and physical beauty of the Renaissance period. The private nature of the couple's embrace and the presence of the onlooker adds a sense of intimacy and mystery, as if the viewer were witness to something private being happening to the couple.