Venus and Cupid travelling to Cyprus in a shell

Venus reclines in a conch shell beinged pulled towards the mountainous shores of Cyprus by a stylised dolphin. The plate was drawn and etched by Gérard de Lairesse (1640-1711) as one of four scenes of Venus and Cupid intertwined with the Four Elements. The others are: Venus watching over Cupid asleep in a wood (Earth); the pair fly in a chariot drawn by doves (Air); and they visit the Forge of Vulcan to get arrows for Cupid (Fire). The British Museum has only two, this plate and Air. An early state: later editions were published by Nicolaes Visscher II (c.1680) and Gerard Valk (c.1690).