Sappho embracing Love
Item
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Title
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Sappho embracing Love
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Rights
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Public Domain.
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Creator
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John Mannin (died 1791)
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Date
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1786-91
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Description
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A page with a circular illustration in red ink in the top middle. Within the circle, Sappho is depicted on the right, leaning toward Cupid on the left. Her robes uncover her breasts but cover her arms and the rest of her torso. Her hair appears mostly left down with a crown or headband-like accessory atop the crown of her head. Cupid is naked, his infant form fully portrayed within the circle minus his ankles and feet. Cupid’s right hand grazes Sappho’s jaw, and she cups Cupid’s lower back with her hand. Their faces are very close as they look into each other’s eyes. Below the illustration is “SAPPHO embracing LOVE” in capitalized print (“SAPPHO” and “LOVE”) and lowercase cursive font (“embracing”). Below this is “She gives up all her soul to Loves alarms. / And the sly Tyrant triumphs in her charms.” in cursive print. In smaller cursive print below this is “Dublin Publish’d by Wm. Allen No. 32 Dame Street”.
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Format
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Engraving and etching on paper. 9 9/16 in. × 7 in.
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Contributor
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Shenai Beyale
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Identifier
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The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 42.119.304(46).
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Subject
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Sappho; cupid; poetry; art; engraving; etching
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Source
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Jpg file. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 10/28/2025. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/813293
Sappho embracing Love