The inclusion of Cupid shows that the picture was intended as an allegory of Love and Music presented in the guise of an actual concert .
Cupid replaces Caravaggio 's self - portrait with a cornetto .
The inclusion of Cupid , who replaces Caravaggio 's self - portrait with a cornetto , shows that the picture was intended as an allegory of Love and Music presented in the guise of an actual concert .