Venus after Her Bath with Cupid

The intimate scene Venus after Her Bath follows the composition designed by Raphael in 1516 for a luxurious bathroom in the Vatican apartment of the art-loving Cardinal Bibbiena. The frescoes were the works of Raphael’s students, rendered after the drawings of their master. The paintings reflected the enchantment caused by the decorations of Domus aurea, the palace of Emperor Nero, which was being freshly excavated at that time.