Cupid Shaving His Bow

This painting of Cupid Shaving His Bow, held at Weston Park in Shropshire, depicts a popular mythological subject associated with Parmigianino's circle. The conceit of Cupid preparing his weapon — the bow whose arrows cause love — was a favorite subject of Mannerist artists, allowing for the display of an idealized nude figure in an elegant, complex pose. The theme derives from classical literary sources and was widely circulated through prints, which helped spread Parmigianino's compositional inventions across Europe.

The figure of Cupid demonstrates the characteristic Mannerist treatment of the nude — elongated, smooth-skinned, and arranged in a complex contrapposto that emphasizes formal elegance over naturalistic anatomy. The refined surface finish and the sophisticated spatial arrangement reflect Parmigianino's distinctive aesthetic.