Lucas CranachGerman, 1472–1553Cupid Complaining to Venus
Can I see it?
Unknown
Where is “Cupid Complaining to Venus” now? Collection: The National Gallery, London. Unknown.
London, United Kingdom
The owner is known; whether it is on view today is not.
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the painting
Cupid Complaining to Venus is an oil painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder. Nearly 20 similar works by Cranach and his workshop are known, from the earliest dated version in Güstrow Palace of 1527 to one in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow, dated to 1545, with the figures in a variety of poses and differing in other details. The Metropolitan Museum of Art notes that the number of extant versions suggests that this was one of Cranach's most successful compositions.
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A version acquired by the National Gallery, London in 1963 is perhaps the earliest example. Although undated, experts have dated it to c. 1526–27. It is more elaborate than the others, and in a larger format than most, except for the similarly sized Güstrow version and a larger (life size) version at the Galleria Borghese, Rome dated to 1531. Cranach had painted Venus and Cupid together since at least his 1509 painting now held by the Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg.
Details
- Accession number
- NG6344
In the catalog
Sources
- Wikidata
- Image: The National Gallery — Lucas Cranach the Elder · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
In the life of Lucas Cranach
The whole life1505–1547
Post: court painter
1519–1520
Treasurer of the Wittenberg Council
He first held the office of treasurer on the Wittenberg council, a post he subsequently occupied several times until 1535.
1520
Daughter born: Anna Pfreundt
1522
Publication of Luther's September Testament
Together with his business partner, the goldsmith Christian Döring, he was responsible for publishing the September Testament — Luther's translation of the Bible with illustrations by Cranach.
1525
Witness at Luther's Wedding
Together with his wife, he was a witness at the wedding of Martin Luther and Katharina von Bora.
1531
Post: burgomaster
