The Lovers

StatusReference work · Not for sale

Held byCleveland Museum of Art

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In this image, a man and woman sit facing one another; the woman casts her eyes down shyly as the man makes a tender touch, an invitation to love. This artist pared down a garden of love to an arbor with a low fence, a vase of flowers, <br>and a basin of water holding a jug of wine and cup. The love displayed in the garden is chaste, as intended. This is apparent by the wine in the water bath, suggesting cooled desire; the carnations in the vase, symbols of virginity; and the woman’s small dog, a sign of fidelity.

Artist / Maker	Wenzel von Olmütz
Date	c. 1490
Culture / Origin	Germany
Medium	engraving
Dimensions	Image: 16.7 x 10.9 cm (6 9/16 x 4 5/16 in.); Sheet: 16.9 x 11.3 cm (6 5/8 x 4 7/16 in.)
Department	Prints
Type	Print

About the Artist

BiographyWenzel von Olmütz (1500) — Moravian artist (active 1481-1497).Wenzel von Olmütz worked as artist, copper engraver, goldsmith, founder and graphic artist and is associated with Holy Roman Empire.Disciplinesartist, copper engraver, goldsmith, founder, graphic artistBorn1500, MoraviaNationalityHoly Roman EmpireSources: Wikidata Full biography →

Provenance & Source

Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.

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