Venus, the goddess of love, was born full-grown from the foam of the sea. Here she is seated in a seashell, surrounded by sea creatures and representations of love: dolphins, tritons, naiads and cupids. The interacting figures, in voluptuous poses, create a scene of lively, sensual movement. Remarkably, the artist made only a few sketches before starting on this painting, despite its advanced composition. It was commissioned by Carl Gustaf Tessin.