Study for "The Education of Cupid"
Classification
mythology
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Kenyon Cox
Accession Number
1923-6-64
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Kenyon Cox (1856–1919), a leading American artist and educator of the Beaux-Arts tradition, created this *Study for "The Education of Cupid in 1917. in Europe and a prominent muralist, Cox championed classical themes drawn from Greco-Roman mythology, blending Renaissance idealism with American realism. Amid World War I, his focus on timeless subjects like Cupid—the mischievous god of love—offered an escape into beauty and harmony, reflecting his belief in art's moral and educational power. As a preparatory study, this work likely explores compositions, poses, or details for a larger painting ...