Titian. Sacred Love and Profane Love, (detail), circa 1514, oil on canvas. © Galleria Borghese
The theme of “Sacred and Profane Love” by the Venetian painter Titian focuses on the contrasting roles of the two similar female figures. Profane love, or earthly Venus – dressed in a bridal gown and seated on a sarcophagus, and the so-called sacred love, or heavenly Venus, nude and slightly leaning on the edge, with a small brazier in hand. Between them, a small Cupid stirs the water in the sarcophagus with his hand.