The Cupid Seller

In 1837, during the July Monarchy, the work was taken to Palace of Fontainebleau, where it hang in the chambers of Helene, Duchess of Orleans, daughter in law of Louis-Philippe of France.

These 'goût grec' paintings were a great success, as their idealised beauty and cultivated simplicity suggested that ancient taste in art was recognisable to present-day people.

For several years Vien devoted himself exclusively to this type of painting, producing Seller in 1763, differing from his other works of that kind in that it was based directly on an ancient model.

Until the mid 18th century, such ancient paintings were known almost exclusively via literature such as Pliny the Elder, since only a few figurative representations and ornamental decorations had been discovered since the Renaissance.

Exhibited at the Salon of 1763 alongside other works by Vien and an illustration of the source fresco, the opportunity for comparison with an ancient model caused a huge public stir.

After the work's success, genre paintings à la grecque became fashionable and numerous French artists created pictures in this style.