The Different Perspectives of Eros

The Different Perspectives of Eros

This curation showcases six different pieces of the same object, all depicting Eros, the god of love, desire, and lust. Each piece portrays Eros as a young child or baby, but what makes this collection interesting is how differently each artist has depicted the god. When it comes to creating gods in paintings, sculptures, and carvings there are no set rules, and artists have the freedom to decide what the god looks like. This is because these gods are solely created from imagination, stories, and other sources. The primary objective of this gallery is to provide a platform to showcase artists' creativity and to express their unique perspectives. Through their artwork, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of how individuals can view the same thing differently. The gallery displays carvings, sculptures, and statues that offer a glimpse into the artist's imagination and creative process. By exploring the exhibits, visitors can appreciate the beauty and complexity of art and gain a new appreciation for the power of human creativity. The pieces in this collection date back to the 4th Century BCE to the 2nd Century CE, with most of them originating from Greco-Roman culture, except for one from Cypriot culture and one from Italic culture.

Unknown, Bronze Support for a Mirror, 4th Century BCE

Bronze, A.N.: 58.11.3



In this artwork, Eros is depicted as seated and appears to be quite thin compared to other depictions of Eros. He is also shown with wings that resemble an angel, which is a common way of portraying Eros. This artwork is used as a mirror support, which means that a mirror disk would have been placed on top of the piece where the rounded part above Eros is located. Additionally, there would have been a handle made of ivory, bone, or wood attached to the bottom where the point is.


Unknown, Bronze Statue of Eros Sleeping, 3rd-2nd century BCE

Bronze, A.N.: 43.11.4





This particular piece has been widely referred to as the best of its kind. It was created during the Hellenistic Period and later on, during the Roman period, Sleeping Eros sculptures were used as decorations for villa gardens and fountains. It is believed that in the Hellenistic Period, they had other uses such as dedications in sanctuaries of Aphrodite. They could have also been used as decor in public and private parks, and even in royal gardens.



Unknown, Terracotta statuette of Eros Banqueting, 3rd Century BCE or later

Terracotta; mold-made and handmade, A.N.: 74.51.1595





This piece is a small figurine, measuring just over 2 inches in height. A figurine is a sculpture of a human that is smaller than life-sized. This particular figurine was made from a mold and is made of terracotta, which is a type of fired clay. The sculpture depicts Eros, who is shown with wings and a chubby appearance, as is typical. However, in this piece, Eros is portrayed more as a baby than a young child, which may be due to the small size of the figurine.

Unknown, Garnet Ring Stone, 1st Century BCE

Garnet (almandine) A.N.: 81.6.31




This particular piece belongs to the Hellenistic Period and is considered a gem that would have been set into a ring. The photo above shows that the piece is only about an inch in size. It is a carving of Eros, depicted as a muscular baby/child, walking towards the right while carrying the weapons of Herakles, including the lion's skin, club, bow, and quiver. This portrayal of Eros is more powerful than the other pieces shown, where he appears more relaxed. This highlights the fact that every artist has a unique perspective and can interpret the same subject differently.



Unknown, Stucco Relief Panel, 2nd half of 1st Century CE

Stucco, A.N.: 92.11.5





Here is another artwork that depicts Eros as a standing object instead of a reclining figure. This is a Relief carving that raises the design from the background, creating a 3D effect. It's different from intaglio carving, which cuts the design into the surface. This technique has been used for centuries in various cultures and art forms. Despite standing, Eros appears relaxed similar to the other pieces shown, and is depicted playing an instrument, appears to be in a peaceful space



Unknown, Bronze Statuette of Eros Sleeping, 1st Century BCE – 2nd Century CE

Bronze, A.N.: 13.225.2




This is described as the reduced version of The Statue of Eros Sleeping, (Which is also shown in this curation) This version is only eight and a fourth inch which is very interesting considering how detailed this piece is. The hair is very obviously curly, and he has very defined arms, legs, and fingers. This Eros is also seen as relaxed but that is not original by this artist, but instead just a copy of the first one.