Venus and Cupid Discovering the Body of Adonis c. 1740

"Venus and Cupid Discovering the Body of Adonis" is a drawing by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, created around 1740. The artwork depicts a scene from Roman mythology, where Venus, the goddess of love, and Cupid, her son, discover the body of Adonis, a beautiful youth who was killed by a boar. The drawing is executed in brown ink and wash on paper, and it is characterized by Tiepolo's signature dramatic style. The figures are depicted with a dynamic sense of movement and emotion, and the composition is characterized by a strong sense of depth and perspective. The drawing is likely a preparatory study for a larger painting or fresco.