Cupid posed in an Ornamental Cartouche 1700 - 1800

This drawing presents Cupid within an ornamental cartouche, its creation steeped in the traditions of classical art. Cupid, the Roman god of love, inherited from the Greek Eros, appears here as a chubby child, his gesture of reaching out, known as Adlocutio, a common motif in antiquity associated with leadership and persuasion. Interestingly, in the Renaissance, this gesture, combined with Cupid, becomes a symbol of divine love and inspiration. We see echoes of this Cupid in Botticelli’s Venus, who is driven by passion and desire. Yet, observe how the meaning shifts; what was once divine evolves into secular love. It is in the collective memory, deeply rooted in the psyche, where the Cupid figure evokes a sense of longing and connection, an interplay between classical ideals and human emotions. The cyclical nature of symbols shows us how the past continually resurfaces. The Cupid continues to evolve, adapting to new cultural landscapes.