ErosEducation1.0013_Boucher

ErosEducation1.0013_Boucher

LACMA website
Bion Love's Schooling
Lucian Dialogues 20, 23

François Boucher, 1703-1770, "Venus and Mercury Instructing Cupid," 1738, oil on canvas, William Randolph Hearst Collection, 47.29.10, Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Young Eros is taught by his mother Aphrodite and Hermes, the consumate go-between, in the crafts of assistance in love. Here he learns how to deliver a fitting billet-doux.

The earliest modern depiction of this theme seems to have been Correggio's "School of Love" 1520s, which is seen at the National Gallery, London; cf. OGCMA ErosEducation1.0001_Correggio.)

Reid (p. 413): "The popular [I would add "classical"] tradition that Eros was the son of Aphrodite is emphasized in scenes depicting the boy-god's education. He is usually seen poring over a book while seated between his mother and Hermes. The subject became popular in the Renaissance with the rise of interest in [classical] learning. Ares is occassionally present as archery instructor. In some works the term 'education' is taken to mean the chastisement of Eros [or his being stung by bees] for his malicious ways."

OGCMA slides are designed by Roger T. Macfarlane for use in Classical Civilization 241 courses at Brigham Young University.
The present resource contains information assembled for The Oxford Guide to Classical Mythology in the Arts, 1400 – 1990’s, edited by J. Davidson Reid (Oxford 1994), and it is used with express permission from Oxford University Press.
Address concerns or inquiries to macfarlane@byu.edu.