Venus, Cupid and Jealousy 1549

Agnolo Bronzino painted "Venus, Cupid and Jealousy" in oil on wood, a technique that lends itself to incredible detail and smoothly enameled surfaces. The artist has created a composition based on human figures, which are rendered with an almost sculptural attention to their volumes. Bronzino was working in a time, the 16th century, when Italian artists were completely in command of their materials. Painters were expected to have a full understanding of human anatomy, perspective, and color mixing. The artist clearly delighted in showing his technical command, using the oil paint to achieve the illusion of luminous flesh and sharply defined forms. However, it's important to note that underneath the dazzling craftsmanship, there is a darker narrative in play. Bronzino made this painting for Cosimo I de Medici, a man who wanted to see himself as a cultured patron, but who was, in fact, a ruthless politician. So, while it may look like a straightforward exercise in artistic virtuosity, the painting is also embedded in a web of power, wealth, and social control. We can reflect on the fact that such skill, labor and precious materials were used to produce an artwork that served power.