Venus and Cupid

Venus and Cupid

Title

Venus and Cupid

[Museum Bautzen, revised 2016]

Painting on wood

Medium

Painting on wood

[cda 2017]

The panel depicts the goddess with long blond curls against a dark background. She is wearing only a beret and a transparent veil and looks out at the viewer. Cupid, who is also naked, stands to her right on a pedestal and looks up at his mother, holding a bow

The panel depicts the goddess with long blond curls against a dark background. She is wearing only a beret and a transparent veil and looks out at the viewer. Cupid, who is also naked, stands to her right on a pedestal and looks up at his mother, holding a bow and arrow in both hands. Branches are faintly indicated behind them, but seem to disappear into the dark background.

Attribution
Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

Attribution

Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Museum Bautzen, revised 2016]

Production date
1526

Production date

1526

[dated]

Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 46.1 x 31.9 cm

Dimensions

  • Dimensions of support: 46.1 x 31.9 cm

  • [Heydenreich, cda 2017]

Signature / Dating

Artist's insignia on the pedestal: winged serpent and dated '1526', in yellow paint.

Signature / Dating

  • Artist's insignia on the pedestal: winged serpent and dated '1526', in yellow paint.

Owner
Museum Bautzen
Repository
Museum Bautzen
Location
Bautzen
CDA ID
DE_MB_L1634
FR (1978) Nr.
FR-none
Persistent Link
https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_MB_L1634/

Literature

Reference on page Catalogue Number Figure / Plate
Cat. Bautzen 1954 54 39
AuthorEva Schmidt
TitleKatalog der Gemäldesammlung des Stadtmuseums Bautzen
Place of PublicationBautzen
Year of Publication1954
Link https://digital.slub-dresden.de/werkansicht/dlf/570444/1
Show Literature
  • Venus and Cupid, 1526

Images

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  • overall
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  • reverse
  • irr
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Technical studies

09. 2016Technical examination / Scientific analysis

  • Infrared reflectography
  • irr

Underdrawing

DESCRIPTION

Tools/Material:

- fluid, black medium, brushes of varying widths; possibly over an initial design

Type/Ductus:

- relatively detailed and freehand underdrawing

- thin to broader lines, at times searching lines, e. g. Cupid’s body

Function:

- relatively binding for the final painted version; the lines define the main contours, describe essential details and indicate facial features; no representation of volume with hatching strokes

Deviations:

- minor corrections were made to forms during the painting process; small changes (e. g. Cupid’s foot)

INTERPRETATION

Attribution:

- Workshop Lucas Cranach the Elder

[Sandner, Heydenreich, Smith-Contini, cda 2017]

  • photographed by Ingo Sandner
  • photographed by Gunnar Heydenreich

Support

- wooden support thinned to 2mm, laminated to an oak panel and cradled

Ground and Imprimatura

- the barbe has been preserved along the top and bottom edges of the panel

[Heydenreich, cda 2017]

Versions

Venus and Cupid
  • Venus and Cupid, about 1525
  • UK_CVCSC_0339-N
  • Painting
  • Compton Verney, Warwickshire

Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive

Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Venus and Cupid', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_MB_L1634/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Venus and Cupid', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_MB_L1634/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})

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