''Apollo and Cupid'' is a bronze sculpture of the Greek god Apollo flanked by an amorino by the Flemish sculptor François Duquesnoy. Just like Duquesnoy's

Mercury Mercury commonly refers to: * Mercury (planet), the nearest planet to the Sun * Mercury (element), a metallic chemical element with the symbol Hg * Mercury (mythology), a Roman god Mercury or The Mercury may also refer to: Companies * Merc ...

(whose ''putto'' is now lost) the statue was designed as a dialogue between a Greek god and a ''putto'' /

Cupid In classical mythology, Cupid (Latin Cupīdō , meaning "passionate desire") is the god of desire, lust, erotic love, attraction and affection. He is often portrayed as the son of the love goddess Venus (mythology), Venus and the god of war Mar ...

. The sculpture has been described as more classicist when compared to the ''Mercury'', with Apollo's feminine facial features akin to those of Duquesnoy's

Saint Susanna Susanna of Rome (fl. 3rd century) was a Christian martyr of the Diocletianic Persecution. Her existing hagiography, written between about 450 and 500, is of no historical value and the relations it attributes to Susanna are entirely fictitious.Mi ...

, and the "vigorously molded" Cupid quite close to Duquesnoy's masterpiece, the ''putti'' adorning the

Tomb of Ferdinand van den Eynde The ''Tomb of Ferdinand van den Eynde'' is a sculptural monument designed and executed by François Duquesnoy. It is located in the church of Santa Maria dell'Anima in Rome. Duquesnoy secured the commission for this work thanks to Pietro Pescatore, ...

. Both the ''Mercury'' and ''Apollo and Cupid'' are currently housed at the private

Liechtenstein Museum The Liechtenstein Museum is a private art museum in Vienna, Austria. It contains much of the art collection of its owners, the House of Liechtenstein, Princely Family of Liechtenstein, rulers of the principality of Liechtenstein. It includes import ...

in Vienna.

Sculpture

According to Bellori, whilst this bronze is indeed a pendant to Duquesnoy's ''Mercury'', it was designed several years later by the ''Fiammingo''. Indeed, the sculpture was not realized for Vincenzo Giustiniani (the Greek sculpture enthusiast who had commissioned the ''Mercury'' from Duquesnoy) but for another patron. Further, a different dating for the two sculptures is suggested by stylistic differences. Duquesnoy's ''Apollo and Cupid'' is first recorded in and inventory of Karl Eusebius, Prince of Liechtenstein at Feldsberg. It has been suggested that Karl Eusebius commissioned this oeuvre himself. The subject of the sculpture has been determined to be Apollo instructing Cupid how to shoot an arrow, with Cupid depicted while imitating him. The god leans on a tree stump, "in a graceful contrapposto that echoes that of the ''Mercury'', but without its backward tilt." Apollo originally held a bow in his left hand. With his right hand, Apollo instructs Cupid to extract a bow from his quiver. According to the Liechtenstein Museum Press, "Duquesnoy gave his figures a softly chased surface and a subtle modulation that creates a gentle interplay of light and shade." Together with the ''Mercury'', the bronze was greatly admired by Austrian sculptor

Georg Rafael Donner Georg Rafael Donner (24 May 1693 – 15 February 1741) was one of the most prolific Austrian sculptors of the 18th century. His style was baroque with some pseudo-ancient additions. He educated many German sculptors of his era, including hi ...

, who copied Duquesnoy's bronzes. Duquesnoy's authorship was forgotten in the eighteenth century, and the work was thought to be an antique.

References

Sources

* * * *

External links

Apollo and Cupid at Liechtenstein Museum official website

{{François Duquesnoy 1630s sculptures Sculptures in Austria Sculptures by François Duquesnoy Bronze sculptures in Austria Bronze sculptures Sculptures of Apollo Sculptures of classical mythology