The Instruciton of Cupid in Architecture
Roundel
late 15th century or early 16th century (made)
late 15th century or early 16th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This roundel in relief represents Cupid being instructed in architecture and is made by Alessandro Leopardi in Venice in the late 15th or early 16th century.
Cupid was the son of Venus and god of love and could make both men and gods fall in love with each other at will with his arrows, and thus embodies unbridled passion.
Cupid also continually challenges and causes disorder. Hence, how to bring Cupid under control has been a question since antiquity. The solution was to educate him.
Cupid needs order, proportion, symmetry and good measure. This means education in the discipline of the quadrivium, which consisted of arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy. All this again is the basis for an education in architecture.
The education of gods and heroes was a popular theme in the Renaissance, mirroring the revival of classical learning.
Cupid was the son of Venus and god of love and could make both men and gods fall in love with each other at will with his arrows, and thus embodies unbridled passion.
Cupid also continually challenges and causes disorder. Hence, how to bring Cupid under control has been a question since antiquity. The solution was to educate him.
Cupid needs order, proportion, symmetry and good measure. This means education in the discipline of the quadrivium, which consisted of arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy. All this again is the basis for an education in architecture.
The education of gods and heroes was a popular theme in the Renaissance, mirroring the revival of classical learning.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Instruciton of Cupid in Architecture (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze in relief |
| Brief description | Roundel in relief, bronze, the Instruction of Cupid in Architecture, Italy (Venice), late 15th to early 16th century |
| Physical description | This roudel in relief shows an allegorical subject. To the right is a figure with winged ankles (Mercury), naked except for an elaborately decorated kilt, is seated on a step or bench under a small tree, holding up a tasselled plumb-line in his right hand which he is touching with a pair of callipers in his left. Behind him is seen a lion's head. To the left on another bench is seated an old man with a cloak pointing to ascroll unfolded on a desk before him. Behind him stands a woamn in a loose tunic holding up a small pyramid. In the centre, on the projecting end of the bench opposite to the figure of Mercury, a naked child (Cupid) is seated, testing the plumb-line with a set-square. In the exergue are partially obliterated letters in relief on a label, (M?) A . L . (V? . . .); the whole is sunk within a deep rim. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | ' [M?] A . L . [V? . . .]' (in the exergue) |
| Object history | From the Salting bequest. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This roundel in relief represents Cupid being instructed in architecture and is made by Alessandro Leopardi in Venice in the late 15th or early 16th century. Cupid was the son of Venus and god of love and could make both men and gods fall in love with each other at will with his arrows, and thus embodies unbridled passion. Cupid also continually challenges and causes disorder. Hence, how to bring Cupid under control has been a question since antiquity. The solution was to educate him. Cupid needs order, proportion, symmetry and good measure. This means education in the discipline of the quadrivium, which consisted of arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy. All this again is the basis for an education in architecture. The education of gods and heroes was a popular theme in the Renaissance, mirroring the revival of classical learning. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.162-1910 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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