Cupid Inspiring a Maiden, 1765

  • Benjamin West, American, 1738-1820

Pen and brown ink on blue laid paper

  • Sheet: 12 3/4 × 9 inches (32.4 × 22.9 cm) Mount: 18 × 14 1/4 inches (45.7 × 36.2 cm)

City of Detroit Purchase

48.206

Department

Prints, Drawings & Photographs

Signed and dated, in pen and brown ink, lower left: B. West 1765 Signed, in pen and brown ink, on mount, center, verso: Benj..West

Printed, on label, affixed to mount, lower center: SIR BENJAMIN WEST, P.R.A Stamped, on mount, in black ink, lower left: Sir Robert Witt (Lugt supplement 2228b) Printed, on label, affixed to mount, upper left, verso: F.TANTON, F.A.I., | 341 Printed, on label, affixed to mount, center, verso: 265 Cupid inspiring a Maiden to write of | Love, 12½in. by 9in., pen-and-ink on a slate grey | ground, within a border of vari-coloured wash | and lines, cardboard mount s.b. & f., | d.1785... Stamped, in black ink, lower right, verso: Sir Robert Witt (Lugt suppl. 2228b)

Inscribed, in pencil, on mount, lower right: Signed on back Inscribed, in pencil, on mount, lower left: 2480 Inscribed, in blue pencil, on mount, upper center, verso: WCA 1063 Inscribed, in pencil, on mount, lower left, verso: West | Cupid inspiring a Maiden to write of love | Produce of England

1948-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

Benjamin West, Cupid Inspiring a Maiden, 1765, pen and brown ink on blue laid paper. Detroit Institute of Arts, City of Detroit Purchase, 48.206.