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Antique 1828 Hand-Colored Satirical Print Titled "The Monkey-Cupid"
$316.80
$39620% Off
£239.98
£299.9820% Off
€272
€34020% Off
CA$438.88
CA$548.6020% Off
A$492.23
A$615.2920% Off
CHF 257.77
CHF 322.2220% Off
MX$5,981.09
MX$7,476.3620% Off
NOK 3,273.30
NOK 4,091.6220% Off
SEK 3,103.32
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DKK 2,070.94
DKK 2,588.6820% Off
About the Item
Antique 1828 Satirical Print "The Monkey-Cupid" by Thomas Landseer — Hand-Colored Etching from Monkeyana
This rare and whimsically satirical hand-colored etching titled "The Monkey-Cupid" was created in 1828 by British artist Thomas Landseer (1793–1880). It forms part of his highly collectible series Monkeyana, or Men in Miniature, a clever 19th-century publication that humorously anthropomorphized monkeys to reflect and critique human nature, folly, and social behavior.
In this particular print, Landseer transforms Cupid—the god of love—into a mischievous monkey. The creature, adorned with feathery blue wings and a crown of red roses, kneels among lush foliage and roses, preparing to unleash an arrow of love from a dramatically curved red bow. A second arrow rests on the ground beneath the monkey’s tail, which loops around to form both a ring and a love-knot—traditional symbols of affection and romantic entanglement.
Landseer’s use of the monkey as Cupid brilliantly plays on the themes of love, desire, and transformation. His satire is underscored by the playful verse engraved beneath the image, which reads:
*What wanton tricks sly Cupid plays,*
*When o’er the rogues let loose!*
*A God he’s turn’d into a swain,*
*And man into a goose!*
This verse comically suggests that when Cupid is left unchecked, even gods behave foolishly and humans more so—succumbing to absurdities in the name of love.
Executed with exceptional detail and artistry, this etching displays fine linework characteristic of Landseer’s technique, further enhanced by the rich, hand-applied coloring. It is signed in the plate and printed on laid paper with wide margins, mounted in a cream mat.
A charming and intelligent example of early Victorian satirical art, The Monkey-Cupid is an excellent piece for collectors of antique prints, lovers of British visual satire, or anyone drawn to the intersection of fine art and humor.
Framed, this piece would make an elegant and thought-provoking addition to any interior.
Artist: Thomas Landseer (1793–1880)
Date: 1828
Medium:** Hand-colored etching
Provenance: From Monkeyana, or Men in Miniature
- Dimensions:Height: 15.75 in (40 cm)Width: 11.82 in (30 cm)Depth: 0.12 in (3 mm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1828
- Condition:Good, given age. Some small surface damages in the right margin (closed with archival tape). A faint dampstain in the lower right margin. Small stains in the margins. Print sold in matting. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects.
- Seller Location:Langweer, NL
- Reference Number:Seller: PCT-566281stDibs: LU3054344649322
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