Venus nursing three Cupids in a landscape (ca. 1627–78)
Original title: Venus nursing three Cupids in a landscape
kurzbeschreibung
This engraving by Cornelis Galle II was made between 1627 and 1678. It shows Venus kneeling as she nurses three winged amoretti. The setting is a charming landscape with trees and flowers. The print belongs to Flemish Baroque graphic art.
Description
Venus kneels, her simple garment wrapped around her hips, her hair tied in a knot. Two amoretti hang at her breast, while the third tugs at her clothing. Trees and flowers frame the figures, and the sky is cloudy. Below the scene runs the Latin inscription 'CRESCESTIS AMORES', with the artist's name at the lower right.
Context
Cornelis Galle II (1615–1678) was a Flemish engraver in Antwerp, trained in the workshop of his father, Cornelis Galle I. He often engraved after designs by other artists, frequently for the Plantin-Moretus printing house. The motif of a nursing Venus comes from ancient and mythological tradition and was popular in the Baroque as a sign of fertility and maternal love. The dating (ca. 1627–78) covers a large part of his active career.
Impact
Delicate lines and a calm layout give the print a harmonious, idyllic mood. The intimate nursing scene is gently embraced by the natural landscape, radiating a sense of security and sensuality. The Latin inscription adds an allegorical twist and invites reflection.
Technique
For this engraving, lines were incised into a copper plate and then transferred to paper with printing ink. Fine, parallel hatching creates sculptural shadows and shapes the figures' bodies. The sheet has been trimmed, suggesting later use or framing.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)