Love at first sight

The lid of the box is decorated with a miniature painting of Venus and Cupid. Venus and Cupid are figures from Roman mythology and represent love, desire, and attraction.

This connection to the ancient Mediterranean is emphasized by the inclusion of acanthuses (from the Greek akantha), a plant that symbolizes life, immortality, the horns of the lunar crescent, and the veneration of the arts. These elements are some of the hallmarks of neoclassicism, a widespread and influential movement in the arts that began in the 1760s and reached its height in the 1780s.

Light pastels, ivory white, and gold are the predominant colors. The scene is characterized by an easy-going, lighthearted treatment of mythological and courtship themes, rich and delicate brushwork, a relatively light tonal key, and sensuous coloring. Ivory white is the predominant hue in the painting.