And the reason is that human nature was originally one and we were a whole, and the desire and pursuit of the whole is called love.
Plato, Symposium 192e
Amid the commercial frenzy of Valentine’s Day, while the air is saturated with calls to purchase and hearts fall prey to marketing, common thought turns to Cupid, the winged deity who pierces mortals with arrows of passion. Beyond the image that has become an icon of consumerist celebration, a complex psychic entity lies—an emanation of desire and passion that lives in the human soul. This energy reveals itself through symbols and metaphors, a language that dialogues with consciousness: arrows, bow, and quiver—elements that unveil an inner dimension of passions and affections beyond the bounds of logic. Found in both art and mythology, Cupid is one of the countless forms the soul manifests itself in, inviting us to explore the depths of our being and question the arcane meaning of love and desire.
In the works of Correggio, Caravaggio, Manfredi, and Parmigianino, Cupid appears in different shapes, each with its own unique characteristics and symbolic value.
Correggio paints him as a plump and cheerful cherub, sealing the union between Venus and Mars—a symbol of love that blends and harmonizes. His presence is discreet yet essential, depicted with soft, blurred brushstrokes and warm, enveloping light that creates an atmosphere of peaceful intimacy. An innocent and playful Cupid, an expression of pure and spontaneous love.
On the other hand, Caravaggio portrays Cupid as a boy abandoned to sleep, in a pose that evokes fragility and vulnerability. Light chisels his body, creating a stark contrast against the surrounding darkness. Realism is emphasized by symbolic elements such as arrows and a quiver. A vulnerable and fragile Cupid, a symbol of wounded and disappointed love. A love that is tormented and ambiguous, suspended between light and shadow, an intense and passionate feeling capable of bringing both supreme joy and deep suffering.
Found in both art and mythology, Cupid is one of the countless forms the soul manifests itself in, inviting us to explore the depths of our being and question the arcane meaning of love and desire.
In the dynamic turmoil of early 17th-century Rome, there was an artist who, while deeply influenced by Caravaggio’s revolutionary style, emerged with an original pictorial language: Bartolomeo Manfredi. His paintingVenus, Mars, and Cupid stands as a brilliant example of this singular approach.
Manfredi subverts traditional compositional structures, arranging the figures in a dynamic triangle, each vertex animated by concentric movements of vibrant energy.
Manfredi’s Venus is far from the hieratic, composed goddess of classical tradition. She is sensual, with full forms and vivid colors, seemingly coming to life under the viewer’s gaze. Color plays a defining role in Manfredi’s style. His palette is rich with intense, glazed tones, and his contrasts are sharp and deliberate, such as the striking electric blue draped around Cupid’s body. The smooth surfaces of the figures emphasize their carnal presence.
Beside Venus stands Mars, the god of war, who grasps Cupid’s arm with a forceful gesture.
Cupid himself, the god of love, is depicted with striking energy and realism, immediately drawing the viewer’s attention. His youthful body is sculpted with remarkable precision, revealing Manfredi’s mastery in rendering the plasticity of the human body.
Critics have highlighted how Mars’ clenched fist, vehemently grasping Cupid’s arm, is a gesture of great expressive force. A detail that reveals Manfredi’s ability to infuse his figures with drama and pathos.
Finally, in Parmigianino’s work, Cupid is depicted forging his bow, the instrument of seduction and conquest. His figure is marked by grace and refinement, emphasizing his divine nature. A Cupid as a craftsman of love’s weapons, a symbol of seductive and conquering power of love. The artist’s attention to detail and meticulous rendering of materials showcase his technical mastery. This is an artificial, refined love—an expression of an elevated and sophisticated society, a complex and contradictory feeling, a game of seduction and power.
Despite their differences, these works tell us of a unique truth: love is a powerful force, capable of transforming our existence and opening us to a deeper dimension of meaning. Art is not merely a representation of reality but its interpretation.
Opening image: Caravaggio, Sleeping Cupid, 1608