Naked archers shooting at a target attached to a herm, Cupid sleeping below, possibly an allegory related to vice 1535 - 1565

This engraving by Nicolas Beatrizet, made in the mid-16th century, captures a scene of naked archers firing at a target next to a classical sculpture while Cupid sleeps below. Beatrizet, working in the wake of the Italian Renaissance, engages with a visual culture that often idealized the male form and drew upon classical mythology to explore themes of love, desire, and virtue. The male nudes evoke a sense of athletic prowess. Yet, the frenzied activity of the archers, contrasted with the dormant Cupid, creates a tension – perhaps hinting at the chaotic and sometimes destructive nature of desire when divorced from reason and temperance. The sleeping Cupid can be seen as an allegory for the absence of love. As an allegory related to vice, this work reflects the societal norms of the time. Beatrizet's print invites us to reflect on how we, as a society, represent and negotiate the complex interplay between desire, morality, and human nature.