Staande Amor, met boog 1562 - 1610

This is Alessandro Casolani’s “Standing Cupid, with Bow,” a pen and brown ink drawing. Casolani was working in Siena, Italy during a time of immense religious and social upheaval. The Protestant Reformation was challenging traditional Catholic dogma and the subsequent Counter-Reformation sought to reassert the dominance of the Catholic Church. Here, Casolani offers us a unique perspective on the classical figure of Cupid. Traditionally depicted as a mischievous, innocent child, this Cupid appears more contemplative, almost melancholic. The androgynous figure with its bow suggests a complex interplay between desire and vulnerability. The soft, flowing lines of the drawing evoke a sense of both physical beauty and emotional depth. This Cupid embodies the tensions of its time. It presents an alternative narrative, one that explores the complexities of love and identity, challenging us to look beyond conventional representations. In this way Casolani captures the shift from the High Renaissance's idealized forms to the more emotionally charged expressions of the Baroque era.