Three Pilgrims Confronted by Cupid 1750

Editor: Here we have Susanna Duncombe's "Three Pilgrims Confronted by Cupid." It's a delicate drawing, and Cupid seems almost a threat rather than an innocent figure of love. What do you make of this encounter? Curator: It's interesting to consider how the 18th-century context might shape our view. Duncombe likely engaged with the prevailing social commentary on love, which was not always idealized. The scene can be seen as a staged encounter. Is Cupid really confronting the pilgrims or staging a performance? Editor: So, it's perhaps less about romance and more about the social rituals surrounding it? Curator: Precisely. The pilgrims' attire and Cupid’s theatrical pose could signify the performance of courtship rituals within a very specific social strata. Editor: I never considered it that way before. I guess there's more to Cupid than just romance.