1547
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Venus and Mars Served by Cupid and the Three Graces is a 1547 ink by Léon Davent, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This busy scene shows a naked woman sitting on a pile of clothes and armor. Around her, five other figures—some winged, some holding objects—crowd close. One woman pours from a vase while another holds a mirror. A child plays with a snake, and a dog peeks from the corner. The background is packed with details: cups, vases, and strange tools. Notice how the artist used lines to create texture, like the folds in the fabric or the rough bark of the tree trunk. The mix of gods, weapons, and everyday objects suggests a story about love and war. Try looking up *etching* to see how artists like Davent carved into metal plates to make prints.
Léon Davent (French pronunciation: ) was a French printmaker in the mid 16th century, closely associated with the First School of Fontainebleau.
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