Akademik

   In English, Love conquers all. This theme, based on Virgil's Eclogues, became common in the early years of the 17th century, though Parmigianino had already provided his version in 1535: the Cupid Carving His Bow in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. In 1601-1602, Caravaggio created his Amor Vincit Omnia (Berlin, Gemäldegalerie) for his patron Vincenzo Giustiniani, a work that features a naughty adolescent Cupid who smiles unabashedly at the viewer. At his feet are musical and geometry instruments, as well as armors to denote that love conquers all, even reason. In c. 1603, Giovanni Baglione rendered his Divine Love (Rome, Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Antica) in response to Caravaggio's painting, for Giustiniani's brother, Benedetto. While Caravaggio's depicts earthly love, Baglione's presents its divine counterpart subduing Cupid and Satan.