“Caravaggio’s Cupid” exhibition at the Wallace Collection ✎

Earlier this year, I visited the Wallace Collection in London to see Caravaggio’s famous Victorious Cupid (also known as Amor Vincit Omnia), painted in 1601-02.

This was the first time this monumental Baroque masterpiece had ever been seen in public in the UK. I really enjoyed this once-in-a-lifetime display of one of the great masterpieces.

Rating: 4/5 ★★★★

✲✲✲

Victorious Cupid by Caravaggio (1601-1602)

I found this painting both captivating and a bit unsettling.

As I stood in front of it, the tension between classical idealism and raw gritty street reality becomes clear.

Caravaggio painted Cupid. As embodiment of love, he conquers the lute (music), armour (war), a globe (travel), manuscript (learning).

Usually, Cupid was depicted as a soft cherubic being. But, Caravaggio did the opposite. He hired a real street kid from Rome - it was suggested that the model was his lover (Francesco Boneri).

Also, is there something mocking in Cupid’s grin? He knows we want love, or carnality. 😉

✲✲✲

Caravaggio painted heavy sweeping eagle wings with extraordinary plumage and feathers.

The chiaroscuro emphasises his soft & warm rounded fleshiness of cheeks. 

I think Caravaggio’s smile carries a sense of playful, perhaps teasing intimacy.