Venus et Amour, 2024

The mythological paintings of the nude by the 16th c German painter, Lucas Cranach have informed and influenced the subjects and compositions of Eglin’s figurative works.

Eglin examines one of the enduring subjects in Western art, Venus with Cupid. Rather than offering a faithful retelling, he reworks the theme through his own distinctly direct and physical approach to clay. The figures are hand-built and deliberately unrefined, with surfaces alive with gesture and richly worked glazes that heighten both form and expression.

There is a tension at the heart of the piece, between the familiarity of the classical source and the immediacy of its making. Eglin embraces this contrast, allowing the sensuality of the subject to sit alongside a more playful, even irreverent handling. Colour and surface are used instinctively, closer to painting than traditional ceramic decoration, giving the work a vivid, almost narrative presence. Rooted in the traditions of figurative ceramics yet unconstrained by them, Venus et Amour reflects Eglin’s ongoing interest in revisiting historical imagery and making it newly resonant through material and touch. Philip Eglin’s work is held in numerous public collections in the UK and internationally.