Three Loves, One holding a Quiver, the Other, Grapes
Medium
Etching and engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 11 9/16 x 15 9/16 in. (29.4 x 39.5 cm) Plate: 8 1/2 x 11 in. (21.6 x 28 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1957
Accession Number
57.559.42
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the opulent world of 18th-century French Rococo art, *Three Loves, One Holding a Quiver, the Other, Grapes* (1727–60) captures the playful sensuality François Boucher was famous for. This etching and engraving, likely designed by Boucher—a master of decorative, mythological scenes—and executed by skilled printmakers Pierre Alexandre Aveline and Gabriel Huquier, depicts three cherubic Loves (Cupids). One brandishes a quiver of arrows symbolizing romantic conquest, while another offers grapes, evoking Bacchic revelry and abundance. Such allegories celebrated love, desire, and nature's pleasur...
About the Artist
François Boucher|Pierre Alexandre Aveline|Gabriel Huquier · 1703–1770
François Boucher (1703–1770) stands as the quintessential master of French Rococo painting and the most celebrated decorative artist of the 18th century. Born in Paris to a lace designer, Boucher created a visual language that perfectly embodied the refined taste, sensuality, and elegance of Louis XV's court. His prolific output—encompassing paintings, tapestry designs, theatrical sets, and decora...