François Gérard (1770-1837) - attributed to, François Gérard (1770-1837) - attributed to Venus and Cupid

François Gérard (1770-1837) - attributed to
Venus and Cupid

The subject of this painting is very unusual. Venus nets a love arrow from her son Cupid with milk from her breast, which he has placed on an antique, round pedestal. The blonde Venus is enthroned on clouds behind the pedestal, the youthful Cupid stands on the right and holds the arrow on the pedestal. His bow, quiver and arrows lie on the bow in the right foreground. Cupids fly down from the top left, playing with a purple veil and the doves of Venus. To the right of the pedestal is a bust of Minerva, goddess of science and the art of war, on which Cupid rests his leg. She was pushed off the pedestal in favour of Love. Oil on canvas , 45.5 × 39 cm