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Venus Giving Arms to Aeneas

Jean Cornu French
1704
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 532
The later reign of Louis XIV witnessed a veritable explosion of theatrical Baroque sculptural groups devoted to the retelling of classical myths. In an episode taken from Virgil's Aeneid, the goddess Venus descends from the skies to present her son, the Trojan prince Aeneas, with a spectacular set of armor. As an addition to the story, Cupid, half-brother of Aeneas, raises the shield.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Venus Giving Arms to Aeneas
  • Artist: Jean Cornu (French, Paris 1650–1710 Lisieux)
  • Date: 1704
  • Culture: French, Paris
  • Medium: Terracotta and painted wood
  • Dimensions: H. 41-9/16 in. (108 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture
  • Credit Line: The Friedsam Collection, Bequest of Michael Friedsam, 1931
  • Object Number: 32.100.158
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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