Hovering cupids 

This is Jacob de Wit’s sketch of hovering cupids, now held at the Städel Museum. Winged cherubs populate the composition, their chubby forms bearing garlands. These figures, derived from classical antiquity's Eros, are no mere decoration. The cupid, symbol of love, descends through history from the ancient world. In Pompeian frescoes, we see similar winged figures, often mischievous, their presence invoking themes of desire and affection. Consider the evolution: from the divine Eros of the Greeks, embodying primordial forces of attraction, to the playful putti of the Renaissance, love's symbolism has been transformed. Observe the sketch's dynamic energy, which stirs primal feelings, reaching back to our collective, emotional memory. These cupids aren’t simply figures; they are carriers of potent symbolic weight, and love—an emotion that transcends time. The motif resurfaces, perpetually evolving, and forever engaging us.