The painting, Venus Verticordia, elicits biblical and mythological references that can be interpreted in light of the poem by Rossetti. With motifs like the apple, halo, flowers, and arrow, each explicitly representing something more, the relationship between the poem and painting leave room for discussion.The apple is a significant aspect of the painting. It is a reference to the apple from the forbidden tree of knowledge that Eve ate in the Garden of Eden that caused the fall of man and original sin. Additionally, it is a reference to the apple that Paris offered Venus in Greek mythology in appreciation of her exquisite beauty. The first two lines of the poem develop the idea of temptation and can be interpreted in many different ways. Venus possesses the apple, or symbolically, the power to defy God, gain knowledge, exercise her sexuality, and influence Adam, or men in general. But, in the case of Paris and Venus, the apple is used as a sign of beauty. Yet in the poem, Venus is hesitant to give the apple away, demonstrating her ambiguous nature that will later be discussed further. The apple is referred to as a “dart,” having negative connotations, and is meant to be aimed at a target, in which the sweetness is only momentary and then pain prevails. In the second stanza, it is stated that the apple “works [Venus’] spell.” This reference to a ‘dart’ and the concept of a ‘spell’ demonstrates the female power associated with knowledge, beauty, and sexuality, but is always followed by 'woe'. Although Venus is hesitant to give the apple away, she exercises her freedom in doing so, and is triumphant over the man.