Three Cupids Floating in the Clouds
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Overdoor painting depicting three winged cupids. On the left, one reclines asleep on a flagon and grapes. On the right, one stands and holds his right index finger to his lips and another crouches in front over grapes coming out of a quiver.
A sleeping cupid, perhaps overpowered by wine, is about to be disturbed by his curious friends. This painting, probably originally painted as a curved overdoor, was made by François Boucher at a time when he was producing many similar designs for the tapestry manufactories of Beauvais and Gobelins. Its companion painting at Waddesdon (acc. no. 247.1997) is related to a design to decorate the back of a sofa.
In 1754, Boucher made a series of small paintings of various shapes featuring groups of two or more cupids resting on clouds. These paintings are mostly allegories of the arts, including music, architecture, drawing, and sculpture. There is also a painting of a group of putti shooting at a target decorated with a heart, a reduced version of which is now this painting's companion (acc. no. 247.1997) (see Ananoff, vol. 2, p. 124, no. 442). These paintings were made as patterns for woven tapestries and furniture covers. This painting has not however been linked to such a design, and appears to have been only made as a painting. Boucher became head of the Gobelins manufactory in 1755 when he ceased to design for the Beauvais manufactory. This was an important aspect of his work.
The shushing cupid carries a bow and arrows, a symbol of Cupid, the mischievous ancient god of Love able to strike desire into the hardest of hearts. The soporific effects of wine, symbolised by the grapes and ewer, has overcome even this great power. The arrow quiver in the foreground is stuffed with fruit rather than weapons. The painting complements Boucher's image of cupids with arrows piercing a heart in the companion painting by showing Cupid's weapons in action and at rest.
The painting has been seen to be reminiscent of the Italian paintings that inspired Boucher in his early years (Brookner). As a young man, Boucher won the Prix de Rome, an art scholarship, that allowed him to study in Italy from 1728-1731. He was particularly drawn to Baroque painters such as Pietro da Cortona (1596-1669) who used similar groups of cupids within much larger schemes.
Phillippa Plock, 2011
Dimensions (mm) / weight (mg)
820 x 1370 - sight
Signature & date
signed and dated, lower centre: f. Boucher / 1754
Provenance
- Acquired by Alice de Rothschild (b.1847, d.1922) before 1906; inherited by her great-nephew James de Rothschild (b.1878, d.1957); bequeathed to Waddesdon (National Trust) in 1957.
Collection
- Waddesdon (National Trust)
- Bequest of James de Rothschild, 1957
Bibliography
- Anita Brookner, French Pictures at Waddesdon, The Burlington Magazine, 101, 1959, 271-273; p. 271
- Ellis Waterhouse, Anthony Blunt; Paintings: The James A. de Rothschild Collection at Waddesdon Manor; Fribourg; Office du Livre, The National Trust; 1967; p. 218, cat. no. 95, ill.
- Alexandre Ananoff; Francois Boucher; vol. 2; Paris; La Bibliothèque des Arts; 1976; p. 125, no. 436, ill.; as 'Trois amours sur des nuages'
Subjects
- Mythology/Creatures/Cherub, Putto or Putti
- Mythology/Gods & Goddesses/Cupid
- Figures/Child
- Nature, Landscape & The Elements/Clouds
- Everyday Life/Sleeping
- Nature, Landscape & The Elements/Fruits/Grapes
- Objects/Vessels & Containers/Jug or Ewer
- Objects/Armour & Weaponry/Quiver
- Objects/Armour & Weaponry/Bow & Arrow
- Allegory & Personifications/Love