Mars, Venus and Cupid
William Etty RA (York 1787 – York 1849)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1836 - 1837 (exh at RA)
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
902 x 667 mm (35 ½ x 26 ¼ in)
Place of origin
York
Order this imageCollection
Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire
NT 515705
Caption
William Etty was a very unusual Victorian artist in dedicating himself almost exclusively to the depiction of the nude, which he painted in a glowing and sensual manner, reminiscent of Titian and Rubens. From his faithful studies undertaken at the Academy Life School, Etty produced many mythological and religious scenes, which he constantly subjected to the requirements of ideal art. Mars, in Roman mythology, was the god of war, and Venus was the goddess of love. Mars’ love for Venus had been a popular subject with painters since the Renaissance, for instance Botticelli's Mars and Venus (National Gallery, London) and Etty continued to employ the theme in his work. Here Mars, although partially disarmed, is yet to be captivated by Venus as he stares stiffly into the distance.
Summary
Oil painting on panel, Mars, Venus and Cupid by William Etty RA (York 1787 – York 1849), 1837. Mars in armour standing at left, Venus seated seen from behind with Cupid in her arms, figure of Cupid framed by an arch. Unidentified sketch on paper attached to back of panel 24.25 in x 15.75 in.. Written on back 'From the Collection of F.E. Sidney 1937'.
Provenance
Purchased for 120 gns., by Thomas Wright; sold 7 June 1845 as 'The Bivouac of Cupid', lot 51 and bought by Colls for 370 gns; Charles Oddie sold 18 March 1854, lot 118 and bought by Wallis for 205 gns.; Ralph Brocklebank (1840 - 1921) sold 24 April 1893, lot 145, and bought by Laurie [sic] for 201 ½ gns.; Messrs Lawrie & Co sold 28 January 1905 lot 8, bought by F.E. Sidney for 180 gns.; F.E. Sidney sale, 10 December 1937, lot 32, bought by Leggatt for 60 gns.; bought Lord Fairhaven; bequeathed to the National Trust by Huttleston Rogers Broughton, 1st Lord Fairhaven (1896-1966) with the house and the rest of the contents.
Credit line
Anglesey Abbey, The Fairhaven Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Verso: A label on the back of the panel reads: No.4 Wm / Etty R.A. Exhibited at the first opening of the New Gallery in the year 1837.
Makers and roles
William Etty RA (York 1787 – York 1849), artist
References
Farr 1958 Dennis Farr, William Etty, London, 1958, 72 Anon. 'Fine Arts', The Gentleman's Magazine, June 1837, p. 629 Anon., 'Exhibition at the Royal Academy', The New Sporting Magazine, 12:74, June 1937, pp. 409-10