Three Panels with Cupids
Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors
Accession Number
1901-39-1196
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Felice Giani, a Italian artist of the Neoclassical era (1758–1823), created *Three Panels with Cupids around 1820, near the end of his prolific career. Known for his elegant decorative schemes inspired by ancient Roman frescoes and Pompeian motifs, Giani often populated his works with playful mythological figures like cupids—winged symbols of love and mischief drawn from classical antiquity. These panels, classified as figurative works, likely served as ornamental elements for interiors, reflecting the era's fascination with antiquity amid the Napoleonic revival of classical ideals. Though th...