Cupid as painter 1760 - 1770

This porcelain scent bottle of Cupid as a painter was created by the Chelsea Porcelain Manufactory, a business that operated in London during the 18th century. The figure of Cupid, the god of love, is depicted with the tools of an artist, a playful commentary on love’s power to shape our perceptions. Positioned alongside a flowering tree stump, Cupid is not only an artist but also a figure deeply entwined with the natural world, a common theme in Rococo art. Yet, these delicate porcelains also evoke the social inequalities of the time. While pieces like this were enjoyed by the elite, the labor and resources required for their creation relied on a vast network of global trade. Ultimately, the cupid conveys both the beauty and the complex social realities of the 1700s.