Venus and Cupid

Like many of Evelyn De Morgan's early works this painting is inspired by mythology. Venus, the Roman Goddess of love and beauty is said to have sprung from the froth of the sea. However the sea shells represented here have a dual meaing as they also symbolise female fertility and sexual potency. Venus's companion is Cupid, the god of love, typically represented as a young winged boy. Mythology states that Venus confiscated Cupid's arrows and in this representation it appears that Cupid is trying to persuade Venus to return these to him.