Three Cupids Holding a Helmet 1731 - 1765

Louis Félix de La Rue created this print, now at The Met, depicting three cupids handling a helmet. The helmet, traditionally a symbol of war and protection, is here adorned with a laurel wreath, signifying victory and peace. These motifs appear throughout history, even in antiquity: we find them in Roman Triumphs, where victorious generals were crowned with laurel. Notice how the cupids seem to struggle with the helmet’s weight, a playful inversion of martial prowess. It's a symbolic gesture, turning the instruments of war into objects of childish play. This resonates with a deeper psychological desire to disarm conflict and embrace innocence. The image evokes a dream-like quality, tapping into our collective memory of classical ideals. Consider how these symbols—the cupids, the helmet, the wreath—persist, evolving yet retaining their emotional resonance across centuries, reflecting our complex relationship with love, war, and peace.