Venus & Cupid
Discover how these inseparable figures have shaped artistic representations of love and desire.
Venus and Cupid (1626) by Guido ReniThe Toledo Museum of Art
Venus
The Roman goddess of love, maternal care, sexual reproduction, and erotic desire. The loveliest of all deities, Venus desired—and was desired by—mortals and gods alike.
She was also the guardian of lovers and prostitutes, and a major figure in Roman religion. Venus evolved from the Greek goddess Aphrodite, with whom she shared a mythological tradition.
Venus and Cupid (1626) by Guido ReniThe Toledo Museum of Art
Cupid
The Roman name for Eros, the Greek god of love. He is the son of Venus, goddess of beauty, and was usually represented as a winged boy or even a baby wielding a bow and arrow.
Because Cupid could make any person or God fall madly in love, he came to be seen as a powerful being. Though Cupid typically was not worshiped independently by the Romans, he did become an extremely popular subject in art and literature, often accompanying Venus.
Statuette of Aphrodite and Eros (250-150 BCE) by Once known artistThe Toledo Museum of Art
The story of Venus (Aphrodite) and Cupid (Eros) in Greek and Roman mythology goes back centuries. The oldest depiction in TMA's collection is this sculpture from about 250-150 BCE, showing their enduring appeal across time.
This ceramic plate depicts Venus handing an arrow to Cupid, which will give him his power. With his hand outstretched, Cupid prepares to receive the weapon from his mother. This emphasizes the mother and son relationship and the control that Venus holds over Cupid.
Diana
The crescent moon and bow of the woman on the right indicates this is fellow goddess Diana (Artemis), who is highly skilled with the bow and arrow. She is likely there to give guidance and instruction to Cupid on accurate use of their chosen weapon.
Just as Venus equipped Cupid, she could also disarm him. Their relationship, divine as it may be, has its limits and can be as turbulent as any mother-son dynamic.
Cupid and his bow and arrow are a source of much turmoil in Greek and Roman myth. This painting might capture one such incident, with Venus holding her son's bow out of his reach. Cupid's actions often had far-reaching consequences.
Mars
Son of Jupiter (Zeus) and Juno (Hera), he's the god of war. Mars (Ares) was the lover of Venus, the wife of his brother, Vulcan—an affair that led to much animosity among the gods. The union of these two suggests a connection between love and war. He may also be Cupid's father.
Mars and Venus (1633 - 1634) by Nicolas PoussinThe Toledo Museum of Art
In this painting by Nicolas Poussin, we see Venus and Cupid joined by Mars. Venus gazes in a mirror (Mars' shield), her beauty emphasized by Cupid's gesture. He doesn't need to shoot his arrow to excite her admirer. Mars' adoring gaze reinforces her power as the goddess of love.
Mars and Venus (1600) by Once known artistThe Toledo Museum of Art
In a similar composition Mars rejoins Venus, again with Cupid in orbit. The trio provides rich opportunities for artists to explore themes of love and war, suggesting that passion can be both a source of creation and destruction.
The timeless bond between Venus and Cupid endures. Even this decorative clock showcases their inseparable nature, reinforcing their partnership across various artistic mediums. Though now missing, Venus once held scissors in her right hand that she uses to clip Cupid’s wings.
The theme suggests a kind of vicarious revenge for the heartache Cupid's arrows can cause. The act of clipping his wings could be read as a moment of motherly discipline. Venus asserts control over her son, reigning in impulsive or reckless behavior, especially in matters of the heart and desire.
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