Venus caging Cupids
Relief
1788-1794 (made)
1788-1794 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This relief in white marble, in a gilt wood frame depicts Venus caging Cupids, in a gilt wood frame. The composition appears to be based on the Pompeian painting, 'Cupids for sale', found at Stabiae and now in the Museo Nazionale, Naples. Flaxman may have seen this painting during his time in Italy (1787-94).
John Flaxman (1755-1826) was an English sculptor, designer and teacher. He was the most famous English Neo-classical sculptor of the late 18th century and the early 19th. He focused on monumental sculpture and church monuments and portrait busts. A large collection of his plaster models is held in the Strang Print Room, University College, London. He also made outline illustrations of Homer, Aeschylus and Dante. Many of those in his sketchbooks (now in the V&A) were drawn from the antique while he was in Italy. Furthermore he produced models for pottery and silver supplying the pottery manufacturer Josiah Wedgwood among others. He thus can be considered as an important pioneer in the development of Industrial Design.
John Flaxman (1755-1826) was an English sculptor, designer and teacher. He was the most famous English Neo-classical sculptor of the late 18th century and the early 19th. He focused on monumental sculpture and church monuments and portrait busts. A large collection of his plaster models is held in the Strang Print Room, University College, London. He also made outline illustrations of Homer, Aeschylus and Dante. Many of those in his sketchbooks (now in the V&A) were drawn from the antique while he was in Italy. Furthermore he produced models for pottery and silver supplying the pottery manufacturer Josiah Wedgwood among others. He thus can be considered as an important pioneer in the development of Industrial Design.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Venus caging Cupids (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Marble in a gilt wood frame |
Brief description | Relief, white marble in a gilt wood frame, Venus caging Cupids, by John Flaxman, English, ca. 1788-94 |
Physical description | Relief. Venus stands in the centre holding a cage in her left hand, while on the right and on the left a man and woman are urging a little boy to go to the Goddess. |
Dimensions |
|
Credit line | Bequeathed by John Jones |
Object history | Jones Bequest in 1882. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This relief in white marble, in a gilt wood frame depicts Venus caging Cupids, in a gilt wood frame. The composition appears to be based on the Pompeian painting, 'Cupids for sale', found at Stabiae and now in the Museo Nazionale, Naples. Flaxman may have seen this painting during his time in Italy (1787-94). John Flaxman (1755-1826) was an English sculptor, designer and teacher. He was the most famous English Neo-classical sculptor of the late 18th century and the early 19th. He focused on monumental sculpture and church monuments and portrait busts. A large collection of his plaster models is held in the Strang Print Room, University College, London. He also made outline illustrations of Homer, Aeschylus and Dante. Many of those in his sketchbooks (now in the V&A) were drawn from the antique while he was in Italy. Furthermore he produced models for pottery and silver supplying the pottery manufacturer Josiah Wedgwood among others. He thus can be considered as an important pioneer in the development of Industrial Design. |
Bibliographic references |
|
Collection | |
Accession number | 1150-1882 |
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 | July 25, 2008 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest