Consequences of War, also known as Horrors of War, was executed from 1638-1639 by Peter Paul Rubens in oil paint on canvas. The artist painted it for Ferdinando II de' Medici. Although commissioned by an Italian, art historians characterize both the work and the artist as Flemish Baroque. The painting is a commentary on a European continent ravaged by the Thirty Years' War, and the artist employed numerous symbols, both contemporary and ancient, to deplore the state of the continent. Mars: Mars is the central figure in the composition. The Roman god of war charges with shield and sword as... well as breastplate and helmet. The figure’s skin and cape are dominated by the color red to further emphasize his identity as the Roman god. Book and Drawing: Underneath Mars’s feet lie a book and a drawing. These represent the manner in which the arts and letters are forgotten and destroyed in the chaos and violence of war. Temple of Janus: To the far left of the painting, the Temple of Janus appears with its door ajar. In Ancient Rome, the Temple of Janus would be closed to indicate times of peace while an open door denoted war. This phenomenon is referenced in Fasti by Ovid.
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