Venus Frigida

Venus Frigida is a notable Baroque mythological painting created in 1614 by Peter Paul Rubens, now housed in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp. Executed as an oil on board, it is among the rare works Rubens both signed and dated. The painting's title references a quote from the Roman playwright Terence, emphasizing the idea that love needs nourishment—"sine Cerere et Baccho friget Venus." Rubens adopts the crouched pose of Venus from the Lely Venus, which he saw in the Gonzaga collection during his time in Mantua, showcasing his skill in mythological themes expressed through dynamic Baroque style.