MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI (CAPRESE 1475-ROME 1564)
Archers Shooting at a Herm
c.1530RCIN 912778
Michelangelo produced a small number of highly finished ‘presentation drawings’ as gifts for friends. A group of youths fire arrows at a target, impelled by two putti kindling a fire. But the winged Cupid, representing spiritual love, sleeps below, and the arrows miss their target. The meaning is that only those guided by love will succeed.
watermark: crossbow in circle, close but not identical with Roberts Crossbow D [watermark]