Venus and Cupid
1528
Lucas van Leyden was a Dutch Renaissance prodigy who started engraving before he could barely hold a quill, and this 1528 masterpiece is one of his final works before his tragic early death at just 34. Here, Venus reclines majestically on fluffy clouds while a cheeky Cupid aims his arrow right at her heart, guided by a floating cherub holding a banner that declares her the 'most beautiful goddess of love.' The incredible detail in the flowing hair and muscular forms shows why he was considered the equal of Albrecht Dürer in his time, proving that even near the end of his short life, his hand hadn't lost its magic.
- Technique
- Engraving
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