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Amor Vincit Omnia

Orazio Riminaldi (Pisa 1593-1630)

Date
1624-1625
Location
Ulysses Room
Technique
Oil on canvas
Size
142 x 112 cm
Inventory
Inv. 1912 no. 422

This canvas was part of the collection belonging to Ferdinando de' Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany, and  perhaps comes from the group of works that remained in the possession of the artist’s brother after his death. The subject of the painting is usually described as “Love winning over the arts”, but in the Medici inventories of the late 17th century, it is entered as “Love ruler of all” or “The Talent of virtue''. The Virgilian concept of Omnia vincit amor at the base of this painting had an illustrious predecessor in the same subject, painted for Marchese Vincenzo Giustiniani  by Caravaggio. Together with the usual attributes of bow and arrows, the figure of Amor, the Roman Cupid, is surrounded by a series of items that refer to art, science, literary fame, weaponry and earthly powers which, as well as composing elegant examples of still life, are also an exhortation not to give in to passion but to practise the arts and other human activities (the gesture of Cupid’s hand is important here) in order to achieve harmony. In terms of its composition and Cupid’s pose in particular, the inspiration that comes from some of Caravaggio’s figures blends with that of ancient statues and, in particular, with the Ludovisi Ares. However, the Caravaggism of RIminaldi’s initial years in Rome is here left behind as the artist follows the classicism of French artist Vouet, in terms of the perfect compositional arrangement and for the superb, obvious beauty shown by the ephebe.

Text by
Anna Bisceglia
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