1618
paint
canvas
From the collection of Gemäldegalerie Berlin
Dominant colour
Venus and Cupid is a 1618 paint by Guido Reni, a Early Baroque Italian work, held at Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
This painting depicts a woman and a small child. The woman is standing on a cushion, with her right arm raised and her left arm holding a cloth. She is nude except for the cloth draped over her left shoulder and hip. The child, who appears to be a cherub, is reaching up to touch her right arm. The woman's body is turned slightly to her right, and she is looking down at the child. Her hair is dark and styled in an updo. The child has light-colored hair and wings on his back. There are two doves on the floor to the right of the woman. The painting features a dark background with a curtain or drapery behind the figures. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, look up the technique.
Guido Reni was an Italian Baroque painter, although his works showed a classical manner, similar to Simon Vouet, Nicolas Poussin, and Philippe de Champaigne.
See the richer artist page
