Who painted Venus and Cupid?

Venus and Cupid was painted by Adriaen van der Werff in 1700.

Where can I see Venus and Cupid?

Venus and Cupid is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Venus and Cupid?

Venus and Cupid is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Venus and Cupid

Adriaen van der Werff , 1700

Venus and Cupid is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Adriaen van der Werff. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Adriaen van der Werff, a Dutch painter active around the turn of the 18th century, completed the canvas titled *Venus and Cupid* in 1700. Executed as a mythological scene, the work now belongs to the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. It reflects the artist’s reputation for refined, courtly subjects that appealed to elite patrons across Europe.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a barefoot female figure, identified as Venus, clutching a small cloth and an apple, symbols traditionally linked to love and temptation. Beside her, a plump, winged child—interpreted as Cupid—gestures toward an unseen point, introducing a note of playful curiosity that contrasts with the goddess’s serene demeanor.

Technique & Style

Rendered in a Rococo idiom, the painting employs a pronounced chiaroscuro effect: a luminous front light isolates the figures from a dark, leafy backdrop, enhancing their three‑dimensionality. Van der Werff’s smooth brushwork and delicate modeling achieve a polished surface, while the subtle gradations of tone convey a gentle sensuality characteristic of his late‑Baroque approach.

History & Provenance

Throughout his career he worked closely with his brother and pupil, Pieter van der Werff, who assisted in studio production.

Van der Werff, known for both portraiture and erotic mythological subjects, created this piece during a period when he received commissions from prominent families, including the Medici. Throughout his career he worked closely with his brother and pupil, Pieter van der Werff, who assisted in studio production. The painting entered the Statens Museum for Kunst’s collection in the 20th century, where it remains on display.