Artwork

Venus reclining on a cloud, embracing Cupid and holding his bow in her left hand.

Venus reclining on a cloud, embracing Cupid and holding his bow in her left hand. is a drawing by the Baroque artist Giovanni Battista Cipriani. It dates from 1727 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This drawing depicts a reclining female figure and a winged child on a cloud, rendered in soft, expressive lines.

About this work

Overview

This drawing depicts a reclining female figure and a winged child on a cloud, rendered in soft, expressive lines.

Subject & Meaning

The figures are likely Venus and Cupid, goddess of love and her son, given the child's wings and the bow held by Venus. The scene conveys a tender, intimate moment between the two.

Technique & Style

The artist employed rapid, sketchy lines to capture the figures' forms, achieving a sense of movement and fluidity. The use of layered lines, possibly including cross-hatching, creates depth and shading, adding volume to the scene.