Seated Cupid at The Réunion des Musées Nationaux, Paris

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This marble sculpture was crafted by Étienne-Maurice Falconet in 1757. The figure depicts Cupid sitting on a cloud with his wings spread wide, positioned atop a round pedestal. He keeps his right index finger to his lips with a sly smile on his face while using his left hand to grasp an arrow in a quiver beside him. In the 18th century, this famous sculpture was known by various nicknames, with l'amour menaçant, 'menacing love', being the most well-known. The threat is evident in Cupid's knowing gaze and the gesture he makes, which invites us to secrecy. The statue was created for Madame de Pompadour, King Louis XV's art-loving mistress. Words written on the base of the sculpture are by Falconet: "Whoever you are, here is your master./ He is it, has been, or should be." These words were quoted from Voltaire's 'Mixed Poems' and can be read further. This object is part of the 'Scan The World' initiative. Scan The World is a non-profit project introduced by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the world for public access. It's an open-source community effort, where anyone with interesting items can contribute by emailing stw@myminifactory.com to learn more about how they can help.