Venus Rising
 Statuette of Aphrodite (Venus) |
 Venus Rising from the Sea (Venus Anadyomene) |
 Venus Rising from the Sea ('Venus Anadyomene') |
 Venus and Cupid |
 Drawing of a Statue of Venus with a Dolphin (The Medici Venus) |
 The Tub |
 The Birth of Venus |
![La Représentation [Representation]](http://www.nationalgalleries.org/media_collection/7/GMA%203546.jpg) La Représentation [Representation] |
 Bather Wringing her Hair |
 Venus Anadyomene (after Titian) |
Lucas Cranach
Venus and Cupid
1537Here, Venus is not seen rising from the sea, but with her mischievous son, Cupid. Whoever Cupid shot with his famous bow and arrows fell in love, and this innocent activity caused much chaos among the ancient gods. Cranach, the German Renaissance artist who painted this picture, frequently represented Venus as a full-length nude. His slim, blonde Venus seems completely confident and looks directly at the viewer. She also wears fabulous accessories - gold chains and a transparent veil. Like Titian, Cranach painted for aristocratic collectors. Although he was influenced by ancient art, again like Titian, his Venus looks very different to the one in the Venetian artist's painting. She is less curvy and her pose is more static.
The mischievous, naked Cupid, clutching his bow, identifies the languid nude lady as his mother Venus, the goddess of love. Her wispy hair and transparent drapery flutter around as if in a gentle breeze, their lightness contrasting with the heavy gold necklaces. She conforms to Cranach's ideal of beauty, inspired by the theory of classical art rather than by practical examples. Cranach signed the painting on Cupid's pedestal with a winged serpent. This motif featured on the coat of arms awarded to him by the Elector of Saxony in 1508. From about 1537 the serpent's wings appear folded as here.
- Glossary (2 terms)
- Open
Classicism, Motif
Classicism
A general term for art and architecture based on ancient Greek and Roman culture.
Motif
A distinctive element in a work of art or design.
Cranach produced his most important works as court artist to the Electors of Saxony in Wittenburg. He established a flourishing workshop which produced portraits, altarpieces, allegorical and mythological compositions and designs for costumes, emblems and weapons. He was born and trained in Kronach near Coburg and spent some time in Vienna around 1500. He was initially influenced by Dürer, but soon established his own inventive and colourful style. Martin Luther was a close friend and godfather to Cranach's daughter.
- Glossary (4 terms)
- Open
Allegory, Altarpiece, Mythological, Workshop
Allegory
Where the ‘story’ of a work has a deeper underlying meaning – often used for the representation of grand, abstract ideas.
Altarpiece
An artwork behind a church altar featuring religious scenes or imagery which was usually the focus for the celebration of the Mass.
Mythological
Refers to figures and events from myths which are the ancient stories that usually explain the origins of historical or natural phenomena.
Workshop
Specifically used for a group of artists or craftsmen working collaboratively, usually under the direction of a master, up to the mid-17th century. The phrase 'Workshop of…' is used to describe the origin of an artwork when the master artist had no hand in its creation.
Renaissance
Renaissance literally means rebirth. The word describes aspects of European culture which were inspired by, and sought to revive, ancient Roman and Greek civilization, as well as the period when this happened (between 1300s and late 1500s).
- Credits Bequest of the 11th Marquess of Lothian 1941
- Medium Oil on panel
- Size 38.10 x 27.00 cm
- Do they look like real women to you or not? What is it about them that makes you think this?
- What words can you think of to describe the women depicted in these art works?
- Which Venus do you find the most beautiful - and why?
- How do these art works compare to modern images of beautiful women?
- Who would you say has "goddess status" today, and why?
- Who do you think would have owned these works of art when they were made and where do you think they would have been displayed?
- How does the lack of eye contact with most of these Venuses make you feel when you look at them?
- Why do you think that artists such as Titian were so interested in ancient art and literature?
- Why do you think artists have chosen to portray female nudes so often in the past?
- How do the twentieth-century Venuses compare to the older ones?
