Mars, Venus and Cupid
17th century
Medium
Brush and brown wash, over black chalk, heightened with white gouache, on ivory laid paper, laid down on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
19.7 × 19.6 cm (7 13/16 × 7 3/4 in.)
Classification
ink or chalk wash
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
86108
Art Historical Context
This delicate 17th-century drawing by Gennaro Landi captures the mythological trio of Mars, Venus, and Cupid in a compact composition measuring just under eight inches square. Created with brush and brown wash over black chalk, heightened with white gouache on laid paper, the work exemplifies the refined draftsmanship prized during the Baroque period. The layered technique allows the artist to model forms through subtle gradations of tone, using the white gouache to suggest luminous highlights against the warm brown washes. Landi’s choice of medium reflects the period’s emphasis on preparator...