Venus and Cupid 1674 - 1722

Adriaen van der Werff painted this intimate oil on panel, Venus and Cupid, sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. Oil painting, of course, was the dominant high art medium of the period. Its capacity to deliver a polished, illusionistic surface suited the aristocratic patrons of the day. And Van der Werff was one of the most successful painters of his time. But the technique itself, the layering of thin glazes to build up form, demanded patience and a highly organized studio. We should remember that even in the 1700s, paint wasn't available ready-made in tubes. It had to be mixed in the studio, by apprentices. Looking closely, you can see that Van der Werff has chosen a cool palette, all the better to render the pearlescent flesh of his figures. It's a high-end product, to be sure, but one also reflecting the labor of many hands. It is a perfect example of the way that artists and their workshops operated as small businesses, at the dawn of modern capitalism.