Venus and Cupid on a Chariot
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet (trimmed): 9 5/16 × 6 3/4 in. (23.6 × 17.1 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1961
Accession Number
61.658.10
Tags
Art Historical Context
This engraving, titled *Venus and Cupid on a Chariot*, captures a lively scene from classical mythology. The Roman goddess of love and her winged son ride together in a chariot, evoking themes of desire, beauty, and divine playfulness that captivated European audiences for centuries. Created between 1607 and 1661, the work reflects the enduring fascination with antique stories during the early modern period, when such subjects were frequently reinterpreted for new generations. The medium of engraving allowed artists to translate paintings and drawings into finely detailed prints that could be...