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Venus with Cupid Stealing Honey, 1530 (oil on panel)
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Venus with Cupid Stealing Honey, 1530 (oil on panel)
XOS1249115 Venus with Cupid Stealing Honey, 1530 (oil on panel) by Cranach, Lucas, the Elder (1472-1553); 58x38 cm; Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, Denmark; (add.info.: A scene from the poem Cupid Stealing Honey by the classical Greek poet Theocritus which tells the story of how Cupid complains to his mother, Venus (the goddess of love), of bees stinging him because he has stolen their hive. He wonders that creatures so small can inflict so much pain. Venus laughs and tells him that their stings can be compared to the wounds that he himself inflicts on all those hit by his arrows. The brief ecstasy of love may soon be replaced by suffering and heartbreak. A sign in the top left corner refers to Theocritusa poem.); German, out of copyright
Media ID 12738618
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Aphrodite Bees Cupid Eros Northern Renaissance
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases Lucas Cranach the Elder's masterpiece, "Venus with Cupid Stealing Honey" from 1530. The oil on panel painting, measuring 58x38 cm, is housed in the esteemed Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, Denmark. Inspired by a scene from the classical Greek poet Theocritus' poem "Cupid Stealing Honey" this artwork depicts Venus, the goddess of love, alongside her mischievous son Cupid. In the story, Cupid complains to his mother about being stung by bees after stealing their hive. Astonished at how such tiny creatures can inflict so much pain, he questions their power. Amused by his innocence and mischief, Venus laughs and explains that just as these small stings cause suffering and heartbreak to him, so do his arrows wound those struck by love. The painting beautifully captures both mythological elements and Northern Renaissance aesthetics. With its lush landscape setting and delicate portrayal of female nudity - symbolizing beauty and desire - it embodies themes of love and eroticism prevalent during that era. A sign in the top left corner refers to Theocritus' poem itself; an additional layer of depth added to this already enchanting piece. Through this remarkable work of art, viewers are invited into a world where mythology intertwines with human emotions – reminding us that even moments of ecstasy may be fleeting when confronted with inevitable suffering or heartache.
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