95 Jan Claudius de Cock (1667–1735) Venus and Cupid, 1715 Marble, 59.5 × 31.3 × 24.7 cm Inv. no. Pl. 183 Among the sculptures in the collection, this is the only one from the Low Countries that can be definitively traced to Duke Christian Ludwig II, making it especially significant. Created by one of Antwerp’s most sought-after sculptors, it was certainly no casual acquisition – although no documentation of its purchase has yet been found. By 1752, it was recorded in the Picture Gallery in the old schloss. Such tenderness is expressed in the portrayal of the goddess of beauty as the mother of the god of love that the mythological context becomes almost secondary. The artist focuses entirely on the intimate exchange between the two figures. Cupid holds a shell – typically an attribute of Venus – and turns it towards his divine mother. She inclines her head, her right hand resting lightly on his forearm as he holds the quiver. This gesture may allude to the familiar theme of Cupid’s disarmament, as the mischievous boy is known to release his arrows indiscriminately. Even the gods and goddesses are far from immune to the irresistible power of love. _GS
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