Exhibited: Charlottenborg, “Slott-Møller Udstilling”, 1917, presumably one of the following works: No. 123: 'Skizze [draft] til Den himmelske og den jordiske Kjærlighed', 1914. Or no. 127: 'Forarbejde [pre-study] til Den himmelske og den jordiske kjærlighed', 1915. The finished work, “Den himmelske og den jordiske kærlighed” from 1916, was also featured in this exhibition, no. 138.

During his visit to Italy in 1910, Harald Slott-Møller painted several studies and gained inspiration for what would later become one of his major works “Den himmelske og den jordiske kærlighed” (Heavenly love and earthly love). The motif and general theme of the painting, was presumably inspired by Tizian’s painting of the same title, painted in 1518. ”The journey was shaped - almost like a voyage into the painting. In Florence, he painted a study after a Madonna made by an unknown artist, “dressed in a black cloak over a red chemise”. The archway depicted in the painting, was inspired by the Baptistery. In Siena, he painted the landscape that is seen in the background. Finally, in Rome, he painted some studies of an old fountain or well”. (Vejen Kunstmuseum and Skovgaard Museum, ”Harald Slott-Møller”, 2004–2005, p. 44 in the exhibition catalogue).

Slott-Møller commenced work on the large painting, which measures 156×188 cm, in 1912 and completed it in 1916. He described the content of the painting as such: “It shows the source of life, where these two mighty powers of the world, Aphrodite, goddess of love and the Virgin Mary, the eternal and divine love, meet – each bringing gifts, the red drops which they mix into the well. […]”. (The exhibition catalogue, p. 44–45).

Apart from the studies, which Slott-Møller made in Italy for the painting, the following two works are known to be in existence: a sketch from 1914 and a pre-study from 1915. The present painting is thus very likely to be one of these two.