Modern Amoretti 

Hans Makart painted this scene of playful children, known as "Modern Amoretti," in the late 19th century. It encapsulates the era's fascination with classical mythology, recast through a contemporary lens. The image, reminiscent of a festive bacchanal, presents a tableau of innocence intertwined with darker themes. Consider the social milieu of Vienna at the time. Makart's work catered to the bourgeoisie, who sought grand narratives tinged with romanticism. His lush style was highly fashionable and he became the decorator of choice for the elite. But note the somewhat jarring inclusion of a dead bird and rabbit, symbols of mortality that disrupt the idyllic scene. This can be read as a critique of the artifice inherent in such idealized portrayals, hinting at the underlying realities of life, death, and power. To fully understand it, we need to look to the art criticism of the period, to exhibition reviews, and to the artist's own biography to better understand the social forces at play.