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Gibson learned to carve marble in Rome from the great Neo-Classical sculptors Antonio Canova and Bertel Thorvaldsen. Cupid, one of his most popular sculptures, was inspired by an Italian Renaissance poem that tells of the young god of love dressing up as a shepherd to work his magic—or mischief—on some local shepherds and nymphs. Gibson describes Cupid’s gesture as welcoming, stressing the charming deceit of this powerful deity, and the soft carving, gentle expression, and spiraling curls add to the effect.
Cupid Disguised as a Shepherd Boy
John Gibson (British, 1790–1866)
English
about 1836
Place of Creation: Rome, Italy
Medium/Technique
Stone; marble
Dimensions
Overall: 132.1 x 40.1 x 49.5 cm (52 x 15 13/16 x 19 1/2 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Thomas Gold Appleton
Accession Number84.271a
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsSculpture
Gibson learned to carve marble in Rome from the great Neo-Classical sculptors Antonio Canova and Bertel Thorvaldsen. Cupid, one of his most popular sculptures, was inspired by an Italian Renaissance poem that tells of the young god of love dressing up as a shepherd to work his magic—or mischief—on some local shepherds and nymphs. Gibson describes Cupid’s gesture as welcoming, stressing the charming deceit of this powerful deity, and the soft carving, gentle expression, and spiraling curls add to the effect.
DescriptionWhite marble.
Signed
Signed: I.GIBSON FECIT ROMÆ
ProvenanceAbout 1836/1837, sold by the artist to Thomas Gold Appleton (b. 1812 - d. 1884), Boston [see note 1]; 1884, bequest of Appleton to the MFA [see note 2]. (Accession Date: April 7, 1884)
NOTES:
[1] This is one of eight repetitions that Gibson made of Cupid Disguised as a Shepherd Boy, a sculpture he exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1837 (no. 1169). In a letter of December 14, 1836 (National Library of Wales, MS4914D-40, kindly provided to the MFA by Eric Forster), Benjamin Gibson indicated that his brother John had made "another repetition [of Cupid Disguised as a Shepherd] in marble for an American gentleman--it is going to Boston, United States." This is, in all likelihood, a reference to the present version, which was owned by Thomas Gold Appleton.
[2] From the time of purchase until it was bequeathed to the museum, the statue stood in the hall of Mr. Appleton's home on Commonwealth Avenue. See a photocopy of an undated inventory of his works of art in the file for this object. The inventory is courtesy of the Appleton Family Papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society.
NOTES:
[1] This is one of eight repetitions that Gibson made of Cupid Disguised as a Shepherd Boy, a sculpture he exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1837 (no. 1169). In a letter of December 14, 1836 (National Library of Wales, MS4914D-40, kindly provided to the MFA by Eric Forster), Benjamin Gibson indicated that his brother John had made "another repetition [of Cupid Disguised as a Shepherd] in marble for an American gentleman--it is going to Boston, United States." This is, in all likelihood, a reference to the present version, which was owned by Thomas Gold Appleton.
[2] From the time of purchase until it was bequeathed to the museum, the statue stood in the hall of Mr. Appleton's home on Commonwealth Avenue. See a photocopy of an undated inventory of his works of art in the file for this object. The inventory is courtesy of the Appleton Family Papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society.