Published Catalogue Text: Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Bronzes at the Harvard Art Museums
The chubby, child-like figure of Cupid (Eros) stands with his weight on his left foot, which is turned out; the heel of the right foot is raised as he steps forward. The thighs are joined until the knees. His genitalia are only slightly indicated. His left arm is lowered to his waist and extended out; the left hand is missing. His right arm is raised and slightly bent at the elbow. Cupid looks up at his raised right hand, which holds a phiale, presumably to suggest a liquid offering. His childish face is round and framed by curls falling from the central part in his hair (1). Although the details are worn, it seems that his hair is drawn into a central plait on the back of his head, with a heavy roll of hair at the nape of his neck. Cupid’ torso is bent slightly backward, and small rounded wings sprout from his shoulder blades; the wings are featureless.
In contrast to the Greek Eros, who was often depicted as a nude youth with wings, Roman Cupid generally took on the appearance of a putto, a slightly chubby young child. Cupids are depicted participating in many activities in Roman art, from music and dancing (2) to harvesting and farming (3) to fighting and playing games (4). Cupids (erotes) often appear as attendants to other deities, especially Venus (Aphrodite), and Harvard’s copper alloy Cupid statuettes may have been part of larger statuette groups (5). Cupids are also depicted with ritual accoutrements, such as offering plates or garlands, or in ritual actions such as pouring libations and participating in animal sacrifice (6).
NOTES:
1. Compare D. G. Mitten, Classical Bronzes, Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art (Providence, 1975) 184-85, no. 62, who has a jug in his raised right hand and patera in his lowered left hand.
2. See, for example, Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae Eros/Amor, Cupido nos. 449-88.
3. See, for example, LIMC Eros/Amor, Cupido nos. 489-527.
4. See, for example, LIMC Eros/Amor, Cupido nos. 230-66.
5. For all examples of cupids in service of deities, see LIMC Eros/Amor, Cupido nos. 589-631; for Venus specifically, see LIMC Eros/Amor, Cupido nos. 589-605. Compare also LIMC Eros (in per. or.) nos. 76-88. For additional examples of Cupid and Venus groups in bronze, see A. de Ridder, Catalogue de la collection de Clercq 3: Les bronzes (Paris, 1905) 52-53, 61-62, 80-81, 87, and 91-92; nos. 61, 80, 113, 124, and 133; pls. 10, 13, 24, 27, and 29.
6. See, for example, LIMC Eros/Amor, Cupido nos. 689-714.
Jane A. Scott and Lisa M. Anderson
