Venus and Cupid 1766

"Venus and Cupid" is a 1766 drawing by the French artist Jean Claude Richard, Abbé de Saint-Non (1727-1791), currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The drawing depicts the Roman goddess Venus, a personification of love and beauty, being carried aloft by a winged Cupid, with other cherubs flying around them. The composition of the artwork is dynamic and energetic, emphasizing the movement of the figures and the lightness of their flight. The use of brown washes and highlights creates a sense of depth and atmosphere, suggesting the vastness of the sky. This drawing reflects the Rococo style, known for its playful and sensual subject matter and use of light and delicate brushwork.