Venus and Cupid c. 1759 - 1764

This is Georg Melchior Kraus' "Venus and Cupid," a drawing held at the Städel Museum. Executed in sanguine, the artwork presents a warm, fleshy tonality that invites the eye to linger on its subjects. The composition, built on soft, curvilinear forms, directs our gaze across the reclining figure of Venus to the playful Cupid nestled at her side. Kraus uses line and shadow to define form, yet he avoids sharp, definitive boundaries, creating a sense of atmospheric softness. The sensuous curves of Venus's body and the delicate rendering of Cupid evoke a classical grace. This is tempered, however, by the artwork's engagement with the philosophical underpinnings of its time. The piece reflects the shift towards a more sentimental view of mythology, characteristic of the Enlightenment. The softness of line and tone serves not only an aesthetic function but also mirrors the era's emphasis on emotion and human connection. The drawing, therefore, exists as both a classical echo and a herald of modern sentimentality.