Mars Bound by Cupid, c. 1515-1520

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Drypointexpand_more

Bequest of Herschel V. Jonesexpand_more  P.68.217

Not on Viewexpand_more

This idiosyncratic artist gets his name from the one engraving he dated. Despite his anonymity, the Master of the Year 1515 had a deep well of personality. Eschewing the accepted religious and moralizing themes of the day, he concentrated on wit and whimsy. In Mars Bound by Cupid, a mock-serious Cupid incapacitates the god of war, who is seated ignominiously on a heap of his own armor. The master is known for using drypoint more often than any other sixteenth-century artist, a technique that accounts for the soft, lush ink pooling in the shadows in this remarkably fresh print.

Details
Title
Mars Bound by Cupid
Artist Life
active in Italy, c. 1515-1520
Role
Artist
Accession Number
P.68.217
Provenance
James Reiss, L.1522; J.P. Heseltine, L.1508, sale III, 1920; Frederick Keppel; Knoedler & Co., 1926
Catalogue Raisonne
Hind 3 (lists 9 imps.); Bartsch 6
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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