Haeredes Pauli Caliari (16th century - ) - Venus and Cupid Oil on canvas 152 x 201 cm This canvas depicts Venus lying on a rich bed covered with soft drapery, her nude body barely veiled by transparent drapery that enhances the luminosity of her complexion. Next to her, Cupid is caught in the act of extending his bow, introducing a note of lively dynamism that animates the composure of the female figure. The scene is set in a space with a strong theatrical layout, defined by a large crimson curtain that frames the composition and opens onto a piece of landscape, while two classical statues emerge in the half-light in the background, emphasising the refined reference to antiquity.The work is part of the production of the Veronese workshop active after Paolo Veronese's death in 1588, when his sons Gabriele and Carlo Caliari continued their father's activity under the name "Haeredes Pauli Caliari". The distinctive features of the master's tradition are evident: the sumptuousness of colour, dominated by deep reds and pearly complexions; the idealised elegance of the figures; the broad scenographic scope of the composition. Compared to Veronese's autograph works, there is a more homogenous drafting and a more restrained luminous vibration, elements consistent with the workshop production of the late 16th and early 17th century.The subject, particularly appreciated by European aristocratic collectors between the 16th and 17th centuries, celebrates the allegorical union between Beauty and Love. The decorative quality of the whole, combined with the seductive rendering of the nude and the richness of the scenic apparatus, makes the painting a significant example of the diffusion and fortune of Veronese's language in international collecting circles.Within a 19th-century gilded frame. Provenance: Italico Brass Collection