Venus en Amor op een bed gezeten 1744 - 1781

Jean Baptist Leprince made this print of Venus and Cupid sometime in the 1700s, but without a precise date we must work harder as historians to reconstruct its social context. Consider the image’s formal qualities: its small size, careful lines, and mythological subject matter. These clues suggest this was a print intended for the private enjoyment of a wealthy collector, rather than a large history painting meant for the public sphere. It reminds us that the art world of 18th century France existed primarily to serve the aristocracy. This was the era of the ‘salon,’ an exclusive exhibition controlled by the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. Leprince’s scene of Venus on a bed with Cupid hints at the erotic interests of its patron, typical of the Rococo style of the time. But keep in mind that art historians can use archival sources like letters, receipts, and exhibition catalogs to better understand the conditions that shaped Leprince’s career, and that shape our view of this artwork.