1265 - Painter of the Prague School (active around 1600/early 17th century)

Painter of the Prague School (active around 1600/early 17th century) Venus and Cupid A scene rendered in striking chiaroscuro, in which the goddess of love holds the young Cupid in a tender embrace, while the two gaze lovingly at one another. Cupid carries his characteristic attributes—arrow and quiver—as symbols of love and seduction. Not only are the light, pearlescent flesh tones, the unusually elongated body forms, and the intertwined postures characteristic of Rudolfine Mannerism, but thematically as well, there are clear parallels to the works of, among others, Hans von Aachen and Bartholomäus Spranger, in whose works erotically charged, sensual depictions were a favorite subject and the motif of Venus and Cupid held a special place. Art played a particularly prominent role at the Prague court around 1600, where Emperor Rudolf II gathered and supported Europe’s most outstanding artists. His artistic discernment as a collector and his commitment as a patron of the sciences rank among the highlights of the late Renaissance. Oil on canvas, with relining. 65 cm x 51 cm. Framed. Painter of the Prague School, active around 1600/early 17th century. Oil on canvas, with relining.