Mars, Venus, and Cupid

About this work

This engraving shows three figures in a dramatic scene. On the left, a naked woman with flowing hair sits on a ledge, looking down. Behind her, a small winged child hovers, holding a spear. To the right, a bearded man in a draped cloak kneels, reaching toward the spear. The background has tall columns and a curtain. The artist used fine lines to build up shadows and textures, like the folds in the man’s cloak. The year "1530" is marked in the corner—this was made early in the Renaissance. Next, check out how engraving works to create such detailed shading.