A Small Cupid with His Bow, from "Various figures and doodles" (Diverses figures et griffonnemens) 1641 - 1651

Stefano della Bella created this ink on paper drawing of a small Cupid with his bow as part of a series called "Various figures and doodles". Della Bella, who lived in Florence during the Baroque era, was deeply influenced by the political and social dynamics of his time, when Europe was experiencing both religious conflict and artistic flourishing. This Cupid is not the idealized, playful figure of classical myth; instead, he appears contemplative, almost melancholic. He embodies the complex negotiation of power, desire, and vulnerability. Consider the emotional weight carried by this winged figure, traditionally a symbol of love. Della Bella seems to question the simplistic narratives of love and beauty. The artist captures a sense of the internal lives of his subjects, in a departure from the traditional representations of mythological figures. This Cupid invites us to consider the multifaceted nature of love and its place within the human experience.