Eros in the Sea 1514 - 1536

Agostino Veneziano made this engraving, *Eros in the Sea*, in Italy during the early 16th century. The image derives from classical mythology, picturing Venus’s birth and the trials of love. But let’s consider the institutional and cultural forces that give the image its particular shape. Engravings like this one were luxury goods, made for collectors who prized the classical subject matter and the refined skill required to produce such an object. The mythological theme also served as a way to portray the nude human form without censure from religious authorities. Note too that it is inscribed with Italian poetry. So the image operates as a courtly entertainment, a token of humanist learning, and a display of wealth. As art historians, we might look to period poetry, costume, and design manuals, to explore the cultural milieu in which this image was made. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context.