Arthur Saunders Gore, Viscount Sudley, later 2nd Earl of Arran 1769

Pompeo Batoni painted this family portrait of Arthur Saunders Gore, his wife, and child. Look closely, and you'll notice Cupid, complete with bow and arrow, nestled between the couple. Cupid, the Roman god of love, has roots in the Greek god Eros, a primordial deity associated with desire and attraction. Over centuries, Cupid evolved from a powerful, sometimes chaotic force, to the mischievous cherub we recognize today, often blindfolded to symbolize the irrationality of love. We see echoes of Cupid’s arrow across art history—from Renaissance paintings depicting Venus and Cupid to contemporary works exploring themes of love and relationships. The arrow pierces not just the heart but also the collective psyche, stirring primal emotions and the yearning for connection, forever reminding us of the power of love. As we stand before this portrait, consider how symbols persist, morph, and resurface, reflecting our ever-changing understanding of love and desire.