Art as a Creative Endeavor : Francesco Primaticco vs Niccolo dell' Abbate

Ulysses and Penelope by Francesco Primaticco


Venus and Cupid by Niccolo dell' Abbate


Or maybe not that creative.

I suspect that "Ulysses and Penelope" is the original and "Venus and Cupid" is the facsimile for the following reasons :

1. Ulysses touching Penelope's face looks romantic but Cupid's hand looks like he is waiting for her to spit out a quarter.
2. Cupid has a mullet.
3. Unlike Penelope who appears to be fidgeting with her hands, Venus appears to be making a rude gesture with an erect thumb on one hand between two open fingers on the other.