Venus Presiding Over the Arts of Love

About this work

This engraving shows a naked woman standing tall, holding a bow and arrow while a small winged boy perches on her finger. Around her, people—some sitting, some standing—watch as she points toward a city in the distance. A baby plays with a ram nearby, and tiny cherubs float in the sky, holding scales and tools. The artist used fine lines to create deep shadows and textures, like the folds in the woman’s drapery or the rough bark of the trees. This was a common way to add depth to prints back then. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this carved images into metal plates.