Venus and Cupid travelling to Cyprus in a shell

LAIRESSE, Gerard de.

[Water.] G. Lairesse inuentor et sculpsit.
Amsterdam, c.1677. Etching. 210 x 165mm.

A few small stains.

Venus reclines in a conch shell beinged pulled towards the mountainous shores of Cyprus by a stylised dolphin.
The plate was drawn and etched by Gérard de Lairesse (1640-1711) as one of four scenes of Venus and Cupid intertwined with the Four Elements. The others are: Venus watching over Cupid asleep in a wood (Earth); the pair fly in a chariot drawn by doves (Air); and they visit the Forge of Vulcan to get arrows for Cupid (Fire). The British Museum has only two, this plate and Air.
An early state: later editions were published by Nicolaes Visscher II (c.1680) and Gerard Valk (c.1690).

BM: 1870,0625.1025, 'early state before publisher's address'.
Stock ID : 22978