symbolism

The nude of the young venus' body represents motherly love and friendship. The sleeping dog by her feet symbolizes loyalty in a relationship. The maids in the background looking through her storage can represent her nervousness towards the relationship. 

The sleeping cupid in the background represents Venus's entreaties for Adonis to stay. The torn cloth on Adonis is foreshadowing his death. 

The lion in the background represents the story of St. Jerome and the lion that he pulled out a thorn from the lion's jaw. The pottery on the shelf represents the womb that contained Jesus. And the peacock on the stair symbolizes immortality. 

This painting adopts elements such as camel, giraffe, and palm trees in the background to symbolize Alexandria, a city in Egypt. 

The animals in this painting represent Saint's love for nature and animals. The donkey in the middle ground can be interpreted as a symbol of humility and patience. The skull on the right lower corner can represent mortality.