Tannhäuser en el Venusberg

Tannhäuser in the Venusberg (1901) by John Collier is a vivid and dramatic interpretation of a scene from the Germanic legend of Tannhäuser, popularized by Richard Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser. In the legend, Tannhäuser, a medieval knight and poet, becomes enchanted by the goddess Venus and succumbs to the pleasures of her realm, Venusberg, a magical mountain where he lives in hedonistic excess. Collier’s painting captures the sensual and otherworldly allure of Venusberg, with Venus surrounded by a lush, dreamlike setting and languid figures, evoking both beauty and danger.

Collier, who often depicted mythological and historical themes, embraced the sensuality and tension inherent in the Tannhäuser legend. His portrayal is marked by Pre-Raphaelite influences, seen in the precise detailing, rich color palette, and romanticized figures. The painting embodies the moral and psychological complexity of Tannhäuser’s story, capturing Venus as both an ideal of beauty and a symbol of temptation, reflecting Collier's interest in the psychological and symbolic dimensions of myth.