Artwork
Venus and Cupid
Venus and Cupid is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Lucas Cranach the Elder. It dates from 1509 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Venus and Cupid is a 1509 oil painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder, held at the State Hermitage Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a naked woman, identified as Venus, standing beside a chubby, childlike boy, likely Cupid, who holds a bow. A Latin phrase is inscribed at the top.
Technique & Style
The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a striking contrast between the warm, glowing skin of the figures and the dark background, emphasizing their forms. The woman's body is rendered with smooth, rounded contours, while the boy's physique is more childlike.
Artist & collection
Artist
Lucas Cranach the Elder was a German Renaissance painter and printmaker in woodcut and engraving.
