Poor Cupid

Edmonia Lewis, Poor Cupid, modeled ca. 1872, carved 1876, marble, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alfred T. Morris, Sr., 1984.156
Edmonia Lewis, Poor Cupid, modeled ca. 1872, carved 1876, marble, 27 x 13 3⁄4 x 12 1⁄4 in. (68.6 x 34.9 x 31.1 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Alfred T. Morris, Sr., 1984.156
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Poor Cupid
Artist
Date
modeled ca. 1872, carved 1876
Location
Dimensions
27 x 13 3⁄4 x 12 1⁄4 in. (68.6 x 34.9 x 31.1 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Alfred T. Morris, Sr.
Mediums
Mediums Description
marble
Classifications
Subjects
  • Allegory — passion — love
  • Mythology — classical — Cupid
  • Object — weapon — bow and arrow
Object Number
1984.156
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1984.156

Artwork Description

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.

Works by this artist (1 item)

Nicholas Lyon, Early Texans (mural study, Conroe, Texas Post Office), ca. 1937, oil on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1974.28.26
Early Texans (mural study, Conroe, Texas Post Office)
Artist
Dateca. 1937
oil on paperboard
Not on view

Related Posts

A close up of a woman of color's face on a stamp.
From the Collection01/21/2022
Edmonia Lewis and Her Stamp on American Art
Explore the life and work of this groundbreaking American sculptor
Amy Fox
Social Media and Digital Content Specialist

More Artworks from the Collection

Browse All Artworks
William H. Johnson, Portrait of a Woman in Profile, ca. 1944, recto: pen and ink and pencil on paper verso: pen and ink on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Harmon Foundation, 1967.59.485R-V
Portrait of a Woman in Profile
Artist
Dateca. 1944
recto: pen and ink and pencil on paper verso: pen and ink on paper
Not on view
Joseph Cornell, "D" in Descartes, 1971, collage with ink, pencil and stamps on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, 1991.155.362
“D” in Descartes
Artist
Date1971
collage with ink, pencil and stamps on paperboard
Not on view
Harold Tovish, Particles II, 1971, pen and ink and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1985.30.64
Particles II
Artist
Date1971
pen and ink and pencil on paper
Not on view
Philip Guston, Head of a Woman, 1931, pen and ink, conte crayon, and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Director's Discretionary Fund, 1987.2
Head of a Woman
Artist
Date1931
pen and ink, conte crayon, and pencil on paper
Not on view