Hendrick Goltzius, 1558 Bracht – 1617 Haarlem, zugeschrieben VENUS AND AMOR Oil on copper. 20 x 14 cm. Verso on plate inv. no. of the Attems painting collection "F.C. 71". In gilded magnificent frame. The nude Venus seated on a green cloth in an interior space beneath a red velum with a golden lace border, combing her long, dark-blond hair straight. Standing next to her with supporting and free leg is Cupid, also naked and with small wings, holding a taut bow with an arrow pointing upwards. On the ground on a stone block is his golden quiver filled with arrows, while a bowl and a jug stand on the ground to the right. The small copper panel is already documented in the inventory of the estate of Count Ignaz Maria von Attems (1652-1732) in 1733. The collection probably also contained the "Galleria" once located in Heiligenkreuz Castle from the estate of his father, Ignaz Maria Johann Friedrich Count of Attems (1593-1663), who was in imperial service throughout his life (see Lechner 2010, p. 43). The composition "Venus and Cupid" is documented in a drawing (19.4 x 13.5 cm) by Bartholomeus Spranger dated around 1585, which is now in the Metropolitan Museum, New York. Goltzius was influenced by the works of Bartholomeus Spranger, who worked at the imperial court in Prague, both in his motifs and stylistically in his painting. A contemporary engraving by Aegidius Sadeler (1569-1629), who also worked at the imperial court in Prague, reproduces the drawing with minor alterations (see Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum Braunschweig, Kupferstichkabinett). Provenance: Since at least 1733 Palais Attems, Sackstraße, Graz (see estate inventory after Ignaz Maria Graf von Attems, 1652-1732); probably acquired in the 1960s, since then in family ownership through inheritance. Literature: Inventories of the Attems Collection published in: Georg Lechner, Der Barockmaler Franz Carl Remp (1675-1718), phil. Diss., Vienna 2010: (Q 25) 1733: excerpts from the estate inventory after Ignaz Maria Count von Attems (b) Verzeichnis der Gemälde im Palais der Sackstraße.), p. 232, no. 71 (as "Ein Nackhendes Stückl mit Cupido Von Golzius"). (Q 27) 2nd quarter of the 19th century: P. 244, no. 71 (as "Ein nacktes Stückl mit Cupido"). (Q 28) 1879: p. 253, no. 71 (as "Venus with Armor, Goltzius, copper, 20x14, 10 (guilders)"). (1400071) (2) (18) Hendrick Goltzius, 1558 Bracht - 1617 Haarlem, attributed VENUS AND CUPID Oil on copper. 20 x 14 cm. Inventory number of the collections of paintings of the noble House of Attems no. "F.C.71" on the reverse. Provenance: At Palais Attems from at least 1733, Sackstraße, Graz (see: estate inventory after Count Ignaz Maria von Attems, 1652 - 1732); probably purchased in the 1960s, since then family-owned by inheritance. Literature: Inventories of the Attems collection are published in: Georg Lechner, Der Barockmaler Franz Carl Remp (1675 - 1718), phil. Diss., Vienna 2010: (Q 25) 1733: Excerpts from the inventory of the estate of Ignaz Maria Count von Attems (b) Verzeichnis der Gemälde im Palais der Sackstraße, p. 232, no. 71 (as "Ein Nackhendes Stückl mit Cupido Von Golzius") (Q 27) second quarter of the 19th century: p. 244, no. 71 (as "Ein nacktes Stückl mit Cupido"). (Q 28) 1879: p. 253, no. 71 (as "Venus mit Armor, Goltzius, Kupfer, 20 x 14, 10 (Gulden)").