Camillo Boccaccino, Nude, Venus Cupid Boccaccino, 17th Century, Oil Painting on Canvas, Framed

Details

Description

Camillo boccaccino (cremona, 1505 – 1546) follower

venus breastfeeding cupid

17th century

oil on canvas (113 x 92 cm - … Read more Camillo boccaccino (cremona, 1505 – 1546) follower

venus breastfeeding cupid

17th century

oil on canvas (113 x 92 cm - in antique frame 129 x 107 cm)

good condition (restorations, defects around the perimeter).
antique frame in good condition, with minor losses and defects in the gilding.

this splendid painting is a remake of the work entitled "venus and cupid" (also known as venus breastfeeding cupid), a masterpiece created between 1532 and 1537 by the cremonese renaissance painter camillo boccaccino (cremona, 1505 – 1546), now housed at the pinacoteca di brera in milan. [1]

at the center of the scene is the goddess venus, seated on the ground on a rich, deep-red drapery, half-naked, only partially covered by a light, transparent robe that flows down her hips. Standing beside her is the little cupid (or love), recognizable by the dark wings on his back.

the painting captures a moment of tender and sensual intimacy: venus offers her breast to her son cupid, sophisticated in her pose yet authentic in the transparency of her veils and the tenderness of her flesh. The child, placing a hand on his mother's breast to draw closer, gazes upward with an almost rapt expression.

venus's left hand rests delicately on the red drapery, clutching small wildflowers. At the bottom right, almost in shadow, cupid's bow can be seen abandoned on the ground.

the painting shows a strong influence of parmigianino's style, visible in the elongated and elegant grace of venus's figure and the softness of her forms.

the painting plays heavily on contrasts, with the pale, luminous skin of the two protagonists standing out clearly against the dark, shadowy tones of the trees behind them, while the bright red of the fabric on which they sit illuminates the entire composition.

the canvas "venus and cupid" is considered by art historians to be the true emblem of camillo boccaccino's secular style, a perfect blend of the elegant grace of the emilian painters with the strength and color of the venetian and lombard painters.

his style, in particular, stems from the fusion of three great renaissance painters: parmigianino, correggio, and titian. Each of these masters left a clear imprint on his paintings, allowing him to create a unique and modern language for the time.

from parmigianino, camillo inherited a taste for painting that seeks abstract and elegant beauty, thanks to elongated figures, tapered fingers, sinuous necks, and refined, almost aristocratic poses.
from his study of correggio, he learned the secret of "sfumato" and sweetness, where faces and bodies, especially in his mythological works like our venus, acquire a unique grace and sensuality. This is evident in the nuanced passages of light and the silky skin of the figures.
finally, from titian and the venetian painters, camillo draws the richness of color and the warm atmosphere.

[1] url: https://pinacotecabrera.org/collezioni/collezione-on-line/venere-e-amore/

additional information:

the work is sold with a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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