Artwork
Cupid Stealing Venus's Floral Crown
Cupid Stealing Venus's Floral Crown is a chalk drawing by the Baroque artist Antoine Coypel. It dates from 1706 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:by later hand, lower right in pen and brown ink: 84; by later hand on mount, center left in graphite: Coypel
About this work
Overview
Cupid Stealing Venus's Floral Crown is a 1706 drawing by Antoine Coypel, a French artist who worked in various mediums and held prominent positions in the royal art establishment.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a reclining nude figure, likely Venus, with a winged Cupid reaching for a floral crown on their head, illustrating a mythological scene.
Technique & Style
Executed in orange-red, white, and black chalk on blue laid paper, the drawing showcases Coypel's skill in figure rendering through loose, expressive lines and subtle shading, with the blue paper tone enhancing the orange chalk's visibility.
History & Provenance
Coypel served as court painter to Philippe I, Duke of Orléans, and later to Louis XV, while directing the Académie Royale and overseeing the king's art collection, reflecting his engagement with history painting.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Antoine Coypel (French pronunciation:; 11 April 1661 – 7 January 1722) was a French painter, pastellist, engraver, decorative designer and draughtsman.
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