Cupid in the Elysian Fields tied to a tree in the center, surrounded by many figures
1563
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
sheet: 9 x 14 1/16 in. (22.8 x 35.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949
Accession Number
49.97.263
Tags
Art Historical Context
Created in 1563 by Italian printmaker Giulio Bonasone, this engraving captures a lively mythological scene set in the Elysian Fields, the ancient Greek paradise reserved for heroes the virtuous after death. its center, the youthful god Cupid appears bound to a tree, encircled by a throng of nude male and female figures. The composition blends sensuality with narrative drama, reflecting the Renaissance fascination with classical stories and the idealized human form. As an engraving, the work exemplifies the period’s growing interest in printmaking as a means to share art beyond elite circles. ...
About the Artist
Giulio Bonasone · 1500–1600
Comment on works: History; Mythology