Two Cupids, One with Bat Wings
Original title: Two Cupids, One with Bat Wings
kurzbeschreibung
Between the mid and late 18th century, Jacques Gabriel Huquier made this etching with engraving. It shows two naked winged putti resting on a piece of cloud, drawn in fine hatched linework.
Description
Two naked putti with curly hair sit on a cloud. The larger one has wings and holds an arrow in one hand, while the other hand seems to hold something in the air. Facing him sits the smaller putto, also winged, looking downward. An even hatching fills the background, suggesting sky or cloud. The two figures are arranged symmetrically around the middle of the image. The etching stays monochrome in shades of grey, the light falls evenly, with no strong shadows or highlights.
Context
Jacques Gabriel Huquier (1730–1805) was a French draughtsman and printmaker who worked first in Paris and later in England. The sheet belongs to the Rococo period, when mythological and allegorical scenes with putti were widespread. A putto with bat wings may point to an allegorical or moralising meaning, common in 18th-century printmaking. Huquier produced numerous etchings after his own designs and after works by other artists, often for collectors and art lovers.
Impact
Even light and a calm symmetry draw the eye first to the two bodies, then to the wings and the arrow. Because the light is spread evenly and the execution stays monochrome, the print reads almost like a drawing, focusing attention on the details of bodies and wings. The naked putti against the cloudy backdrop create a mix of playfulness and seriousness typical of 18th-century art.
Technique
Etching and copper engraving are combined here, visible in the fine lines and engraved contours. Etching allowed soft, flowing lines for the bodies and clouds, while engraving added precise detail and hatching. The print was made on paper, with a plate measuring 18.7 × 27.2 cm and a sheet measuring 45.7 × 30.3 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)