Venus underviser Amor, der læser i en bog 1589 - 1631

Curator: Welcome. The artwork we’re looking at is a pen drawing by Giovanni Battista della Rovere, probably made sometime between 1589 and 1631. It's titled, "Venus underviser Amor, der læser i en bog," or "Venus Teaching Cupid to Read". Editor: I like the feel of this sketch; it seems more immediate, more… human than a highly finished painting might. There's something kind of adorable, though also slightly subversive, about a goddess tutoring Cupid. Like he’s slacking off in his divine studies. Curator: That subversiveness makes sense. The Baroque era often played with classical mythology to comment on contemporary society. The image of Venus educating Cupid would have resonated deeply. She isn’t just teaching him to read. She’s schooling him in the arts of love and persuasion, tools that underpin power. Notice how her gaze guides his focus. It speaks of careful instruction. Editor: Absolutely. And it's not just a neutral act of education; Venus holds up what looks like roses—classic symbols of love and beauty—reminding him what's at stake. But does the expression on Cupid's face betray a reluctance? I almost sense an eye-roll hidden in those cherubic features. "Yeah, yeah, mom, I get it." Curator: I love that reading. The details within Cupid's cherubic features can have a bit of ambivalence and a subtle hint of challenge, especially in light of the expectations placed upon him. I wonder, could the book itself, usually a symbol of wisdom, actually represent societal control in this context? Editor: That’s a fascinating thought. I always tend to read art with a personal bias and a little bit of irony. Considering who made it and when this piece was made, that tracks. What is more disruptive than looking askance at your tutors? Curator: I agree. This drawing makes me think about the relationship between knowledge and power. Are we free to interpret what we read or are we bound by a particular set of values? Editor: What a lovely, multifaceted work of art, right? Thanks to della Rovere, we’re still puzzling it out.