Ancient Greek mythology presented many ideas for creativity to great artists. Plots of myths can be found in painting (Botticelli, Doyen, Rene-Antoine-Wass, Rubens, Serov and many others), sculpture (Vincenzo de Rossi, Antonio Canova), literary work. Great figures of art depicted gods, heroes, various plots from myths. For example, the sculpture "Cupid and Psyche" by Antonio Canova reproduces the plot of the tragic love of Psyche and the son of Aphrodite, Amur’s love deity.
Description of the sculpture
There are two statues with this name, and both belong to Canova. Both are made of marble. The first (main photo) shows how Cupid animates Psyche with his kiss. Lovers gently hug each other, connecting in a kiss. Cupid is depicted with large wings, while the girl does not have them (although in mythology she was often described as a girl with butterfly wings). Height - 145 centimeters, the sculpture was made by order of the art lover, collector Baron Caudor.
The second sculpture depicts them standing, they examine a butterfly, symbolizing innocence. Here neither Amur nor Psyche has wings, they stand on a pedestal of cylindrical shape. This work is a copy of the statue of the ancient master found in Aventina.
Original story
For a long time, both sculptures did not leave Canova's workshop. This was due to the difficulty in transporting them. Many people who wanted to see the sculptures came to the workshop of Canova. The statues remained there until the capture of Rome by Napoleon's troops.
In 1801, the Grand Duke Joachim Murat bought both sculptures and transported them to his suburban mansion in Neuilly. By the way, Antonio Canova himself during his arrival in Paris checked how his works were installed.
After Murat, the statues became part of the collection of the emperor, and later (in 1824) part of the exposition of the Louvre, where they are today.
Copies of the statue
The sculpture "Cupid and Psyche" made a very strong impression on Prince Yusupov. In 1796, the replica of "Psyche animated by the kiss of Cupid" was completed. She was a little smaller - her height was 137 centimeters. At first, the sculpture adorned the Yusupov Arkhangelsk estate in the suburbs. After the death of the prince, his son Boris brought the sculpture to St. Petersburg. For a long time she was in the palace on the Moika, and after the revolution she was nationalized. Now the sculpture "Cupid and Psyche" in the Hermitage.
A copy of another sculpture was made later - in 1808, commissioned by Napoleon's first wife, Empress Josephine. After she passed away, the sculpture was bought by the Russian emperor Alexander I. Like the first statue, this replica of Amur and Psyche is now in the Hermitage.
The work of Bernini
In St. Petersburg there is another statue with the same name. The sculpture "Cupid and Psyche" located in the summer garden is the work of Giovanni Bernini.
It was bought by a diplomat and art purchase agent Yuri Kologrivov specifically for the garden. For the sculpture, Bernini took the climax of the myth: Psyche, neglecting the prohibition of the gods, came to Amur and bends over it with a lamp in her hand.