um bit confusing, dnt knw wat my point is..

[moon_unit]

Hi,when I was in secondary school few years ago we went on a school trip to an art gallery in London (dnt knw which1) +the guide showed us a lovely painting ( i knw nothing about art,i guess I could describe it as fine art/pre-raphelite in style) and she told us the meaning behind it. Does anyone know the meaning/story behind the pic as It's all a bit vague to me now.It had a kinda of cherub/angel with bells on his ankle which had the message of warning(bells)to be careful in sexual relations etc. I want to know more about it :)

[Brugel]

The painting is probably "An Allegory With Venus and Cupid" by the Italian Agnolo Bronzino. It is in the National Gallery in London and was painted around 1540-1550. It is one of the most famous and most unusual paintings in the world.

It features Venus and her son Cupid. Cupid is kissing his mother on the lips while simultaneously fondling one of her breasts. To their right is a boy with bells on his ankle. There are other characters as well. I'm not sure what it all means- in fact, I don't know if anyone does. It's got something to do with the dangers of syphilis.

[moon_unit]

Thank you! Im certain you're referring to the painting I saw. It's too bad artists dont leave descriptions of the meaning of their work, for people like me who actually want to know what the artist was conveying rather than being imaginitive and coming up with my own theory. ;p

[don1]

This is the one that Brugel is describing. First pic on this page, click on it to enlarge.

http://en.easyart.com/art-prints/artists/Agnolo-Bronzino -50.html

[moon_unit]

yes that's the one!

p.s I kinda like work by Jeff Williams. Does anyone else? I think its cos he's done a few that would appeal to an aspiring makeup artist like me, such as 'lady you cant say no to' which would look rather good in my room :)

[mystress]

Hi moon_unit,

Artists,critics,connessuirs etc have been confused,delighted and repelled by this painting,since the day the paint dried on the canvas!

It is rumoured to be all kinds of Love.Venus and Cupid are obvious(Venus is the origin of the word Venereal of course!)

The guy on the left (clutching his head wildly) is thought to depict madness caused by syphillis,which may(or may not) be the charming cherub with bells on his ankles.The guy in the background(right) with outstreched arm, is thought to be Time revealing Death(on the left)!However the nastiest thing in the painting is the rosy cheeked girl behind the bell ankled cherub.Her upper part is sweetness and light and quite beautiful,BUT if you follow down her body,you will see she has a reptiles tail and lower half and claws!This is thought to indicate (sorry Ladies) that while women seem sweet, they are animals who give "poor" Men syphillis.Well it was painted mid 16th C so there was no Feminism then!

If you can get to London,do try and see it "in the flesh" because it's quite large,and no reproduction can give you all the detail.

[curragh]

i wouldnt want to go back to london too soon!

[mystress]

Aww curragh,

Please don't be put off.This is only what Art Critics over the centuries have assumed the painting to represent,nobody really knows!So go on, why not make up your own story about the painting?