Venus and Cupid 1789

John Deare made this engraving, Venus and Cupid, using the process of etching: lines are bitten into a metal plate with acid, and then filled with ink to create the image. The nature of the etching process lends itself to line work and fine detail, allowing for a high level of precision and control. Note the delicate cross-hatching that gives the image depth and volume. This wasn't an industrial process, yet the printmaking medium allowed for the distribution of imagery on a much wider scale than could be achieved by sculpture, which was Deare's primary occupation. The engraving is a study for a marble relief sculpture of the same subject. It allowed Deare to explore and refine his ideas before committing them to stone. Printmaking like this played a crucial role in disseminating classical aesthetics across Europe, informing both high art and decorative objects. The finished sculptures would have become prized possessions of the wealthy, but the print offered access to a wider audience.