"Mars, the god of war, has been left exhausted by their lovemaking, and while he rests, a group of playful fauns make off with his lance and armour. Naked and asleep, he is entirely vulnerable, while Venus retains both her clothes and her composure. The message is that love is stronger than war, and it is conveyed with a delightful sense of humor and sophistication."
Young, Claire, Ed. Myths & Legends, National Gallery, London 2005.
Sandro Boticelli, Venus and Mars, about 1485.