Weeping cupid
Statuette
1600-50 (made)
1600-50 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The statuette depicts a naked Cupid standing weeping and holding a handkerchief to his face with his right hand. It is likely to have been part of a group of Venus chastising Cupid.
Cupid, son of Venus and god of love, can make both men and gods fall in love with each other at will with his arrows, and thus embodies unbridled passion. His mother Venus is also among his victims, as he instigated a liaison between her and Mars, the god of war, in his usual way. She was caught out by the Olympian gods and ridiculed. As a punishment, Venus burned his arrows, tied him to a myrtle tree and whipped him with rose twigs.
Cupid, son of Venus and god of love, can make both men and gods fall in love with each other at will with his arrows, and thus embodies unbridled passion. His mother Venus is also among his victims, as he instigated a liaison between her and Mars, the god of war, in his usual way. She was caught out by the Olympian gods and ridiculed. As a punishment, Venus burned his arrows, tied him to a myrtle tree and whipped him with rose twigs.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
|
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Statuette, bronze, of weeping Cupid, from a group of Venus chastising Cupid, Italy (Florence), first half of 17th century |
| Physical description | Bronze statuette of a weeping Cupid, from a group of Venus chastising Cupid. A naked Cupid stands weeping holding a handkerchief to his face with his right hand. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Salting Bequest |
| Object history | Salting bequest. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The statuette depicts a naked Cupid standing weeping and holding a handkerchief to his face with his right hand. It is likely to have been part of a group of Venus chastising Cupid. Cupid, son of Venus and god of love, can make both men and gods fall in love with each other at will with his arrows, and thus embodies unbridled passion. His mother Venus is also among his victims, as he instigated a liaison between her and Mars, the god of war, in his usual way. She was caught out by the Olympian gods and ridiculed. As a punishment, Venus burned his arrows, tied him to a myrtle tree and whipped him with rose twigs. |
| Bibliographic reference | 'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)'. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture). London: Printed under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, EC, p. 9 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.128-1910 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | October 22, 2004 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
