Saturn with a scythe, sitting on a stone and clipping Cupid’s wings Ivan Akimov (1755-1814)

The composition presents a figure embodying old age and authority seated upon a rough-hewn stone. He is depicted with a long, flowing white beard and hair, suggesting wisdom and experience accumulated over time. A pair of large wings sprout from his back, hinting at a celestial or divine nature. The figure holds in his hand a scythe, the traditional symbol of death and the passage of time.
A small, winged infant – presumably representing Cupid, the Roman god of love – is nestled against the older figure’s leg. The elder man is actively engaged in clipping one of Cupids wings with the scythe. This action immediately establishes a central tension within the work: the subjugation or limitation of love by time and mortality.
The setting appears to be an outdoor space, indicated by the indistinct landscape visible behind the figures. At the base of the stone, scattered around, are broken arrows and other remnants associated with Cupid’s domain – further emphasizing the diminishing power of love in the face of inevitable decay. The color palette is dominated by earthy tones – browns, grays, and ochres – which contribute to a somber and weighty atmosphere. A splash of red on the figures garment provides a visual contrast, potentially symbolizing passion or desire being curtailed.
The painting’s subtexts revolve around the cyclical nature of existence and the inevitable triumph of time over youthful passions. The artist seems to be exploring themes of mortality, experience versus innocence, and the potential for even the most powerful emotions to be diminished by the relentless march of years. It is not a straightforward depiction of death as an ending, but rather as a force that shapes and modifies all aspects of human existence, including love itself. The interaction between the two figures – the imposing elder and the vulnerable infant – suggests a complex relationship between experience and naivete, wisdom and desire.