The Fear of Love

Baroque terracotta sculpture of a draped woman with a cherub clinging to her robes

Jean-Louis Lemoyne

A draped woman stands in contemplative pose as a small cherub clings to the folds of her robes, embodying the complex relationship between divine and earthly love. Lemoyne captures intimate emotion through the soft modeling of terracotta, creating subtle contrasts between the woman's serene expression and the cherub's urgent grasp. The asymmetrical composition draws the eye around the figures, revealing different narratives from each angle. This work demonstrates terracotta's unique capacity to convey both monumental presence and tender human emotion.