Venus and Cupid 1878

Editor: This is "Venus and Cupid" painted in 1878 by Evelyn De Morgan. It’s oil on canvas, and it strikes me as incredibly melancholic. Venus's expression seems so burdened. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Melancholy is a keen observation. Note how De Morgan, steeped in Pre-Raphaelite ideals, presents Venus not as a frivolous goddess of love, but as a maternal figure burdened by the complex, often painful, realities of love’s influence. Cupid’s gesture, hand outstretched, bag possibly filled with arrows hinting at love's piercing nature, draws her attention. What do the seashells strewn at their feet suggest to you? Editor: Perhaps the remains of fleeting pleasures or love’s impermanence? The constant erosion of something beautiful by the tide… Curator: Precisely. Shells have long symbolized pilgrimage and fertility, their presence reinforcing the constant cycle of desire and, arguably, the futility of seeking lasting satisfaction. Also, consider Cupid’s wings. They seem heavy, muted in tone, contributing to a sense of restrained sorrow rather than buoyant joy. De Morgan presents Cupid as an emotional burden of Venus rather than the winged infant of playful pleasure. She critiques romantic love and highlights its darker, obsessive tendencies. Editor: That’s fascinating. I had only seen the surface sadness, but now the shells and the Cupid’s wings emphasize a deeper commentary on love and loss. I wonder what made De Morgan present this viewpoint in her artwork. Curator: I think that the constant societal and political events happening during her career directly influenced the iconography and tone of her paintings. Overall, a painting like this emphasizes that mythology may have deeper, emotional truths rather than remain historical oddities. Editor: I now see a real conversation happening about the complexities of love. It makes me think about love beyond romance. Curator: Indeed. Perhaps a reflection on love in a broader context, filled with loss, maturity, responsibility and societal events.