Venus and Cupid 1789

drawing, print, paper

drawing

imaginative character sketch

toned paper

facial expression drawing

light pencil work

print

pencil sketch

charcoal drawing

paper

portrait reference

pencil drawing

england

water

portrait drawing

facial study

"Venus and Cupid" is a 1789 drawing by English artist John Deare (1759-1798) currently housed in the Art Institute of Chicago. The piece depicts the Roman goddess Venus, known for love and beauty, tenderly holding the winged god Cupid. The drawing, done in pen and ink, captures the intimacy between the figures with subtle shading and detail, highlighting the flowing drapery of Venus's gown. Deare, known for his neoclassical style, utilizes line and form to create a sense of depth and dimension, conveying the graceful anatomy of both Venus and Cupid in a composition that echoes the ideals of beauty prevalent during the late 18th century.