Cupid and the turtles 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi made this print of Cupid and the Turtles, using etching, a popular medium in the 18th century. Here we see the God of Love, Cupid, as a young boy, standing on a seashell and holding a spear with ribbons as he commands the turtles. This print, made in Italy, is an allegorical scene of love overcoming obstacles: the turtles symbolize the obstacles, being slow and steady, whilst Cupid symbolizes love overcoming difficulties. In terms of social context, Piranesi was a Venetian artist who moved to Rome and was interested in the revival of Roman architecture. Seashells, as well as Cupid, were often seen in the art and design of the Ancient Roman period. Piranesi was interested in recreating a classical artistic style, but with a unique and modern twist. To fully understand art, we have to analyze the social contexts of the time, so we should look at the popular trends, as well as the classical tradition.