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Poor Cupid

  • Edmonia Lewis, Poor Cupid, modeled ca. 1872, carved 1876, marble, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alfred T. Morris, Sr., 1984.156

Luce Center Label

Edmonia Lewis occasionally carved sculptures of mythical scenes, which were very popular with American tourists visiting Rome. Poor Cupid, or Love Ensnared, depicts the cherub with his hand caught in a trap as he reaches down for a rose. Frivolous sculptures like this appealed to the Victorian sentimentality of affluent Americans traveling around Europe.

Title
Poor Cupid
Artist
Edmonia Lewis
Date
modeled ca. 1872, carved 1876
On View
  1. Smithsonian American Art Museum
  2. Luce Foundation Center
  3. 3rd Floor
  4. 20A
Dimensions
27 x 13 3/4 x 12 1/4 in. (68.6 x 34.9 x 31.1 cm.)
Copyright
Credit Line

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Gift of Alfred T. Morris, Sr.

Mediums
marble
Mediums Description
marble
Classifications
Sculpture
Keywords
  • Object – weapon – bow and arrow
  • Mythology – classical – Cupid
  • Allegory – passion – love
Object Number
1984.156
Palette
Linked Open Data URI

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