The Dance Of The Cupids, Francesco Albani (bologna 1578–1660) Copy After

Francesco Albani (1578–1660) Copy of
The Dance of the Cupids

Oil on panel

94 x 118 cm.
in a fine gilded and carved wooden frame, 101 x 123

Complete details of the work (click HERE)

We see a festive dance of cherubs arranged in a circle around a tree, on which other cherubs are playing musical instruments, while in the foreground there are other objects, including bows and quivers, lying on the grass. In the background on the left, we see the scene of a woman being abducted and dragged onto a chariot: this is specifically the abduction of Proserpina by Pluto, who, madly in love, took her with him to the underworld to make her his bride. On the right, meanwhile, Venus, holding a torch, kisses Cupid amid the clouds, while below stands the Temple of Vesta—which still stands in Rome today—where the sacred fire was once kept.

The painting is an interesting antique replica of the masterpiece by Francesco Albani, titled “Dance of the Cupids” and dating from around 1660, currently housed at the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan (see image in the photo details).

Known for his depictions of mythological and allegorical subjects in a light and decorative style, Francesco Albani is considered, along with Domenichino and Guido Reni, one of the leading exponents of Bolognese Classicism and was therefore in high demand among the cultured patrons of the time.

Thanks to a style characterized by idyllic compositions—and thus appealing to the most intimate tastes of his patrons—works such as these have always enjoyed extraordinary critical and public acclaim, to the point of being replicated multiple times.

The subject depicted remained in high demand even in later periods due to its symbolic significance as the triumph of Love: the painting is, in fact, an interesting allegory of marital union and must therefore have been commissioned within the Farnese family to mark a wedding or an engagement.

This is likely what the cherubs represent: having laid down the bows they use to make lovers fall in love, they play happily because they have fulfilled the mission assigned to them by Cupid—Pluto has fallen in love with Proserpina and abducts her as a sign of uncontrollable love. Finally, Venus rewards Cupid with a grateful kiss, while the temple of Vesta, where the hearth is always lit, symbolizes the enduring nature of love.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The artwork is sold with a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet.

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