Cupid a Captive
c.1754
François Boucher’s playful Rococo masterpiece captures a moment of divine mischief in a lush, overgrown garden. Here, Venus and her nymphs have turned the tables on the god of love, tying up a squirming Cupid with garlands of roses while cherubs flutter above in delight. Painted around 1754, this scene perfectly embodies the frivolous, flirtatious spirit of the French court under Louis XV, where mythology was less about epic battles and more about romantic entanglements. It’s a visual sugar rush of pastel colors and soft skin tones that defined an entire era of decorative art.
Location: Wallace Collection, London
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