Artwork
Time Clipping Cupid's Wings
Time Clipping Cupid's Wings is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Pierre Mignard I. It is held in the collection of the Denver Art Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1698 by the French artist Pierre Mignard, the oil painting titled *Time Clipping Cupid’s Wings* portrays a mythological tableau rendered in a Rococo aesthetic. The work is presently housed in the Denver Art Museum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features an elderly, bearded figure—interpreted as Time—cradling a small, winged child resembling Cupid. Time grips a scythe in his right hand while gently supporting the child with his left, suggesting the inevitable passage that curtails youthful desire.
Technique & Style
Mignard employs chiaroscuro to model the figures against a dark, wooded landscape, giving the scene a three‑dimensional presence. The foreground includes symbolic objects such as a bow, quiver, and scattered feathers, all rendered with the delicate brushwork characteristic of Rococo painting.
History & Provenance
Known as “Mignard le Romain,” the artist was active in the late 17th century and was a contemporary rival of Charles Le Brun, the king’s premier painter. The canvas eventually entered the holdings of the Denver Art Museum, where it remains on display.
Context
Mignard’s oeuvre encompassed religious, mythological, and portrait subjects, reflecting the Baroque transition toward the lighter, ornamental Rococo style. This work exemplifies his engagement with allegorical themes, merging classical mythology with the era’s fascination with time and mortality.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre Mignard or Pierre Mignard I (French pronunciation: ; 17 November 1612 – 30 May 1695), called "Mignard le Romain" to distinguish him from his brother Nicolas Mignard, was a French painter known for his religious and mythological…
