Raphael’s Little Olympian

cupid raphael
Feast your Valentine’s eyes on this section from The Triumph of Galatea, a fresco painted by Raphael around 1514 for the Villa Farnesina in Rome.  It’s part of a scene depicting a Greek myth of a shepherd and his girl falling in love, only to be tormented by a one-eyed giant.

But I’m thinking only about Valentine’s Day and the Olympics. Could it be that this little cupid is a contestant in an ancient Olympic archery event? Today I’d like to think so.

 

 

Tell me what you think!