Artwork
The Temptation of Eros
The Temptation of Eros is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Angelica Kauffmann. It dates from 1762 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a woman seated beside Eros, the classical god of love, whose presence signals the theme of erotic temptation.
The painting depicts a woman seated beside Eros, the classical god of love, whose presence signals the theme of erotic temptation. Eros holds an arrow, a conventional attribute associated with inciting desire, while the woman’s relaxed posture and direct gaze suggest receptivity to his influence.
Kauffmann’s composition aligns with mid-eighteenth-century treatments of mythological subjects, emphasizing the interplay between human emotion and divine agency. The scene likely alludes to the power of love as both an irresistible force and a moral trial, a common motif in Enlightenment-era interpretations of classical stories.
Technique & Style
Created in 1750, The Temptation of Eros is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work falls within the mythological genre and depicts the figures of Eros and a woman. As an oil painting from the mid-eighteenth century, the medium allows for the characteristic handling of light and form associated with the artist Angelica Kauffmann.
History & Provenance
The Temptation of Eros is an oil on canvas painting by Angelica Kauffmann dated to 1750. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified within The American Wing and catalogued as a mythological subject depicting Eros and a woman.
No information about a specific commissioner, patron, or chain of prior ownership is provided in the available sources. The painting's documented history is limited to its creation date and its present institutional home at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Overview
Angelica Kauffmann completed The Temptation of Eros, an oil on canvas, in 1762. This mythological painting features the classical figure of Eros, the god of desire, in an intimate encounter. The artwork is characteristic of Kauffmann's approach to classical themes, often presenting them with a refined emotional depth and a focus on human interaction rather than grand historical narratives.
Artist & collection
Artist
Maria Anna Angelika Kauffmann, usually known in English as Angelica Kauffman, was a Swiss painter who had a successful career in London and Rome.
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