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Marcantonio Raimondi

Mars, Venus, and Cupid, 1508

Description

Maker

Marcantonio Raimondi, ca. 1480-ca. 1534, Italian

Title

Mars, Venus, and Cupid

Year

1508

Medium

Engraving on paper

Materials/Techniques

Materials

engraving

Supports

Medium weight cream laid paper

Dimensions

Image/plate: 28.7 x 20.8 cm (11 5/16 x 8 3/16 inches)

Type

Credit

Gift of Mrs. Gustav Radeke

Object Number

21.021

Projects & Publications

Publications

The Brilliant Line

Following the Early Modern Engraver, 1480-1650

Read Online

Exhibition History

This early example of Marcantonio’s work reveals his knowledge of nielli (ornamental work in which designs engraved on metal are filled in with a sulphur compound). The multiple, dark contours recall engravings by engravings by Andrea Mantegna. But the fine hatching applied to the figures reveals some acquaintance with prints by Albrecht Dürer and Lucas van Leyden. Made after a work by an unknown designer, the composition portrays the two lovers, Mars, god of war, and Venus, goddess of love, and Cupid, the god of lust. The figure of Mars may be based on a drawing by Michelangelo.

Prints and Drawings with a Classical Reference

December 15, 1965 - January 9, 1966

Engravings of the 15th and 16th Centuries

November 10, 1948 - February 4, 1949

Use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use. This object is in the public domain (CC0 1.0). This object is Mars, Venus, and Cupid with the accession number of 21.021. To request a higher resolution file, please submit an online request.

Feedback

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