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Venus and Cupid, c. 1525-7 (oil on wood)
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Venus and Cupid, c. 1525-7 (oil on wood)
3493048 Venus and Cupid, c.1525-7 (oil on wood) by Cranach, Lucas, the Elder (1472-1553); 12.1 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA; (add.info.: A scene from the poem Cupid Stealing Honey by the classical Greek poet Theocritus which tells the story of how Cupid complains to his mother, Venus (the goddess of love), of bees stinging him because he has stolen their hive. He wonders that creatures so small can inflict so much pain. Venus laughs and tells him that their stings can be compared to the wounds that he himself inflicts on all those hit by his arrows. ); German, out of copyright
Media ID 22727502
© Bridgeman Images
Aphrodite Arrow Arrows Bees Cupid Eros Northern Pain Roundel Sting Stung Suffering
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases Lucas Cranach the Elder's masterpiece, "Venus and Cupid" painted between 1525-7. The oil on wood painting, measuring 12.1 cm, is housed in the prestigious Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The artwork depicts a scene from the classical Greek poet Theocritus' poem, "Cupid Stealing Honey". In this tale, Cupid complains to his mother Venus about being stung by bees after stealing their hive. Astonished at how such tiny creatures can inflict so much pain, he questions his own ability to cause wounds with his arrows of love. Venus playfully laughs and explains that just like the bee's sting hurts others, Cupid's arrows also leave lasting marks on those struck by them. Cranach skillfully captures this mythological narrative through his distinctive German Renaissance style. The painting portrays a naked and vulnerable Cupid standing beside Venus – the goddess of love – who wears a roundel hat and holds her son affectionately. With an arrow in hand and suffering from bee stings all over his body, Cupid represents both innocence and mischief. This remarkable artwork not only exemplifies Cranach's artistic prowess but also explores themes of love, vulnerability, and the consequences of our actions. It serves as a testament to the enduring power of mythology within art history while inviting viewers to reflect upon their own experiences with love's joys and pains.
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