A Pair of Lovers
- Artist: Paris Bordone
- Date: 1555-60
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is "A Pair of Lovers" by Paris Bordone, painted in the Italian north. The woman's hair is unbound, and her dress disturbed to reveal her breasts and leg. In one hand she holds reed pipes, with the other she either restrains her lover or encourages him to move the crimson cloak over her lap.
A naked, winged cupid crowns them with a wreath, adding a playful touch to the scene. The couple's gaze is directed towards Cupid, creating a sense of intimacy and romance. On the man's thigh lies a wooden water cask, while above it rests what appears to be a recorder, an early form of woodwind instrument.
The subject of this painting is uncertain, leaving room for interpretation. Some believe it may depict a scene from classical mythology or contain hidden meaning about love. Others see it as simply an erotic image of a nymph and her lover being crowned by Cupid.
See it in person
A Pair of Lovers hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
