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Venus, Vulcan and Cupid, plate
(c. 1528-1530)
Medium
earthenware (maiolica)
Measurements
3.5 × 30.3 cm diameter
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1939
Gallery location
16th & 17th Century Gallery - Painting and Sculpture
Mezzanine linked to Level 1, NGV International
About this work
Vulcan, the god of fire, is shown here forging an arrow, watched on by his wife Venus, goddess of love and beauty, and her son Cupid, god of erotic love. Francesco Xanto Avelli left many signed, dated and inscribed works, and more is known about him than any other maiolica painter. He appears to have been a learned and multi-talented man: in addition to his maiolica painting, Xanto wrote a series of sonnets honouring the Duke of Urbino.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
Urbino, Italy
Accession Number
3862-D3
Department
International Decorative Arts
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Dame Carol Colburn-Grigor CBE through Metal Manufactures Limited