Venus, Cupid, Folly and Time
1540-1545
Bronzino's 'Venus, Cupid, Folly and Time' is a masterpiece of Mannerist coolness, where marble-smooth skin meets a chaotic, cryptic background. At the center, Venus and Cupid share an intimate, almost scandalous kiss, while a mischievous child tosses roses and an old man—Father Time—pulls back a blue curtain to reveal the scene. Painted around 1545 as a diplomatic gift for the King of France, this painting is packed with allegorical warnings about the fleeting nature of pleasure and the dangers of lust, making it one of the most puzzling and provocative works of the Renaissance.
- Technique
- Oil on panel
Location: National Gallery, London
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