Cupid 1620

Giulio Cesare Procaccini painted this Cupid with oil on canvas sometime in the 17th century. The traditional fine art materials of oil paint and canvas allow for the creation of a layered, luminous surface, where the texture of the brushstrokes adds depth to the scene. The artist would have spent many hours carefully building up the image, mixing pigments to achieve the desired shades and tones, and applying them in thin glazes to create a sense of realism. The sensuousness of the paint is critical, particularly in the fleshtones and the rendering of the fabric. These details are vital to the picture’s overall effect, and draw attention to the artist’s labor and skill. Paying close attention to these elements of material and making helps us to understand the full scope of the artist’s achievement, challenging any separation between art and craft.