Venus and Cupid
1516
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1516
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Venus and Cupid is a 1516 ink by Agostino dei Musi, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This black-and-white print shows two naked figures sitting outdoors. The smaller one, a boy with curly hair, leans against a woman with long hair draped over her shoulder. Behind them, a town with towers and a church sits by the water, while a tree looms above the woman’s head. The artist used fine lines to show muscle and fabric, giving the figures a solid, three-dimensional look. The town in the background feels distant, almost like a stage set. Next, check out how this was made using the technique: engraving, cross-hatching.
