Venus, Cupid and Pallas

Venus, Cupid and Pallas is a remarkable engraving dating from the sixteenth century (1500-1599), attributed to the School of Marcantonio Raimondi (Italian, c. 1480-1534) after a design by Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael (Italian, 1483-1520). This important print, executed as an engraving in black on ivory laid paper, exemplifies the critical role of Raimondi and his workshop in disseminating the refined aesthetic of the High Renaissance across Europe. The School of Raimondi was crucial in establishing the reproductive prints market in Italy, translating monumental paintings and drawings into portable, reproducible formats that reached a wider audience than the original frescoes or canvases.

The work depicts the mythological figures of Venus (goddess of love), her son Cupid, and Pallas (often identified with Minerva, goddess of wisdom and war). This classical subject matter, which contrasts passion and virtue, was central to the allegorical tradition of the Italian Renaissance. As a secondary work made in the century following Raphael’s death, the piece demonstrates the enduring influence of the master's compositional clarity and idealized forms well into the early Mannerist period.

This piece is classified within the Art Institute of Chicago collection, where it serves as a vital record of sixteenth-century engraving practices. The detailed technique inherent in the print showcases the technical skill required by the Raimondi studio to translate complex compositional ideas into the demanding medium of the etched line. Thanks to its age and historical importance, high-resolution imagery of the work, Venus, Cupid and Pallas, is often made available through public domain initiatives, allowing scholars and enthusiasts worldwide to study the legacy of Raimondi and his pivotal role in printmaking history.