Archers Shooting at a Herm

The importance of love as a guiding force can be found in many allegorical depictions of desire. This presentation drawing was made by Michelangelo (1475–1564) towards the end of his life, and shows an allegorical scene of archers shooting a target. The drawing addresses the significance of love over passion.

Here, the archers are impelled by the fires of passion fanned by some putti, and as such are unable to hit the heart of their mark with their arrows striking the base and edges of the target. To the right of the archers can be seen the sleeping figure of Cupid, indicating that without the guidance of love, the archers will never achieve their aim.