John Collier (1850-1934) “Tannhäuser in the Venusberg” (1901) Oil on canvas Pre-Raphaelite Located in the Atkinson Art Gallery, Southport, England
Tannhäuser was a German song writer and poet during the 13th century. Based on his Bußlied (Poem of Atonement), Tannhäuser became the subject of a legendary account. In the story, Tannhäuser is a knight and poet who found the Venusberg, the subterranean home of Venus, and spent a year there worshipping the goddess. After leaving the Venusberg, Tannhäuser is filled with remorse, and travels to Rome to ask Pope Urban IV (d. 1264) if it is possible to be absolved of his sins. Urban replies that forgiveness is as impossible as it would be for his papal staff to blossom. Three days after Tannhäuser’s departure Urban’s staff blooms with flowers; messengers are sent to retrieve the knight, but he has already returned to Venusberg, never to be seen again.
