c. 1820

Printed Textile: Love Leads Them

The figures at top, possibly representing Cupid and his lover Psyche, are based on Pierre-Paul Prud’hon’s painting L’union de l’amour et de l’amitié (The Union of Love and Friendship) from c. 1793. In 1784, Prud’hon had been awarded the Prix de Rome to study classical art at the French Academy in Italy from 1784 to 1788, an experience that was a continuous source of inspiration to him. The two scenes at the bottom are based on two works by Prud’hon’s student Jean-Baptiste Mallet, L’amour les conduit (Love Leads Them) and L’amitié les ramène (Friendship Brings Them Back).