Anacreon with the Infants Bacchus and Cupid

In this charming bronze statuette, the ancient Greek lyric poet Anacreon is depicted in a moment of tender care, cradling two mythological infants. The god of wine and pleasure, Bacchus, is easily identified by the vine leaves encircling his head and the small cluster of grapes he holds. Pressed close to the poet is Cupid, the god of love, his tiny feathered wings visible on his back. This intimate scene, cast in bronze, was a popular subject in the late 19th century, reflecting a growing middle-class market for small-scale decorative sculptures that could adorn domestic interiors. The work is a reduced version of a larger composition, demonstrating how foundries like the French firm Barbedienne made art accessible by reproducing well-known works in various sizes.