Michelangelo (1475–154) Venus and Cupid and a Group of Warriors, at the Capodimonte Museum in Naples

Michelangelo “Venus and Cupid”

Drawing – Charcoal on paper (131 x 184 cm) 1530

The Florentine merchant Bartolomeo Bettini had commissioned this drawing from Michelangelo so that it might subsequently be painted by Pontormo.

Venus is depicted in a lascivious pose, reclining on her couch.

Michelangelo, Venus and Cupid Cupid is clearly much more active; he arrives with his wings spread to alight on Venus’s hip and slip an arm round her neck, turning her head towards him to kiss her.

The beauty of the drawing is striking, particularly the facial expressions of Cupid and Venus.

The gestures and positions of the hands, arms and legs are hymns to love.

Cupid’s little arm, which passes beneath Venus’s neck, and his hand caressing her cheek, right down to his little foot resting on her lap, evoke desire and pleasure.

From an artistic point of view, one cannot help but admire the perfection of Venus’s facial features, as well as the beauty and volume of her curly hair gathered into a bun.

Cupid’s little wings are also superbly rendered; one can see them quivering with joy.

The handling of the nude figures within this confined space is another mark of Michelangelo’s genius, which lends them greater presence by emphasising the moment when Venus is caught unawares and touched by Love.

Michelangelo “Group of Warriors”

Drawing – Charcoal on paper (263 x 156 cm) 1546–1550

Group of warriors This large preparatory sketch by Michelangelo, created for his fresco of the “Martyrdom of Saint Peter” in the Pauline Chapel in the Vatican, is a minor masterpiece in its own right.

This drawing depicts only a very small section located in the lower left-hand corner of the fresco of the “Martyrdom of Saint Peter” painted by Michelangelo for Pope Paul III, following those he had painted in the Sistine Chapel.

Standing before this drawing, which measures exactly 2.63 m long by 1.56 m wide, where the three soldiers are depicted life-size, one really feels as though one is walking behind them.

Their muscular power and the proportions of their bodies are beautifully highlighted by Michelangelo.

The three men are following one another and are climbing a flight of stairs; the beauty of the young soldier’s face as he turns round is remarkable.

Group of warriors