Frontispiece, plate one from Recueil de Poésies de Sedaine 1757

Gabriel de Saint-Aubin etched this frontispiece for Sedaine’s collection of poems using a complex allegorical assembly of symbols. The radiant face surrounded by putti introduces a world where divine inspiration and earthly creativity converge. Cupids bearing torches and musical instruments surround a portrait framed with laurel, symbols of both enlightenment and poetic triumph. We can see here echoes of classical antiquity and the Renaissance, where similar figures attended Venus, the goddess of love, and were emblems of spiritual awakening. The torch, as seen here, has ancient roots, symbolizing not only illumination but also desire and transformation. Note how Saint-Aubin imbues the scene with a lively energy, capturing the cherubs' playful movement. This dynamism evokes a powerful emotional response and taps into our collective memory, reminding us that the pursuit of knowledge and beauty is a timeless human endeavor. It is a dance of symbols that transcends time.