It was between Lyon and Mâcon that the Master of the Venuses was undoubtedly active in the 17th century, three mortars of which are kept in the apothecary of the Bourg-en-Bresse hospital, two in Cluny, one in Villefranche- sur-Saône and a last one in Annonay.
The dozens of pieces known by this founder are for the most part devoid of buttress and have a decoration made up of groups of three large fleurs-de-lys arranged in a triangle.
These sets can be separated by patterns of repeated plates such as an image of Venus anadyomene (coming out of the water) - it is this last image which was chosen to adorn our mortar - or even a profile of a Roman emperor, a female bust said to be ''of Anne of Brittany'', the profile of the crowned Virgin, a grotesque mask, small heraldic-type lions, possibly suggesting a reference to the city of Lyon.
Book reference ''Mortiers français du XV° au XVIII° siècle'' – Ed Serge Domini in which a mortar very similar to ours is referenced on page 196
Dimensions
H. 10.5 cm x D. 15 cm
Lyon region
Bronze mortar with pestle
Attributed to the Master of Venus
17th century