Artwork
Venus with Cupid as Honey Thief
Venus with Cupid as Honey Thief is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1615 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. The canvas presents a nude female figure standing beside a small child, identified as Cupid.
About this work
History & Provenance
No further details regarding its specific commission, earlier ownership history, or creation circumstances are provided in the available records.
The painting Venus with Cupid as Honey Thief was created in 1615 by an artist identified as a follower of Lucas Cranach the Elder. The work depicts the mythological figures Venus and Cupid. It is currently held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is housed at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.
The panel measures 177.2 cm in height and 70.5 cm in width. No further details regarding its specific commission, earlier ownership history, or creation circumstances are provided in the available records.
Venus with Cupid as Honey Thief is held by the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, forming part of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. The work is catalogued within that institutional collection as a mythological painting dated to 1615. No further exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
The painting measures 177.2 cm in height and 70.5 cm in width, and is attributed to a follower of Lucas Cranach the Elder rather than to Cranach himself.
Overview
The canvas presents a nude female figure standing beside a small child, identified as Cupid. The woman’s right hand is lowered toward the ground, while the child reaches upward to make contact. A red hat crowns the woman’s head, and a modest sign can be seen in the background, adding a narrative element to the intimate scene.
Subject & Meaning
The composition suggests a tender exchange between the goddess and the infant deity. Cupid, equipped with wings and clutching what appears to be a honeycomb, reaches toward the adult’s hand, evoking themes of affection, generosity, and the sweet allure of love.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a realistic approach, rendering the woman’s flesh and facial features with careful modeling. The contours of the body are delineated with subtle shading, while the child’s wings and the honeycomb are treated with finer detail, creating a contrast between the adult’s solidity and the infant’s delicate form.
Context
The work aligns with a tradition of mythological subjects in which classical deities are portrayed in domestic, approachable moments. By focusing on a quiet interaction rather than dramatic narrative, the painting reflects a more intimate, humanized view of mythic figures.
Artist & collection
