" Psyche revived by Cupids kiss " - The sculpture was commissioned in 1787 by John Campbell. It is regarded as a masterpiece of Neoclassical sculpture, but shows the mythological lovers at a moment of great emotion, characteristic of the emerging movement of Romanticism. It represents the god Cupid in the height of love and tenderness, immediately after awakening the lifeless Psyche with a kiss.
This winged young man who has just landed on a rock where a girl lies unconscious, is the god Eros – Cupid in Latin – and can be recognized by his wings and his quiver filled with arrows. The girl’s name is Psyche. Cupid’s mother Venus, goddess of Beauty, demanded that Psyche bring back a flask from the Underworld, strictly forbidding her to open it.
The powerful impression of aliveness in Canova’s work reflects the remarkable subtlety and variety of his treatment of the marble’s surface. Note the marks of the toothed chisel, deliberately left on the surface of the rock. Note too the difference of texture between the folds of the fabric on the ground and the filmy muslin clinging to Psyche’s thighs. The smoothness of the skin is obtained by using progressively finer files: here Cupid’s face clearly bears their marks. The artist had special curved tools made so he could reach even the most inaccessible areas of his sculptures.
The flask has been made separately: its distinctive polish is most likely due to turning and the use of polishing powder. It was then lustered, and doubtless waxed to give it the look of a precious metal. Also sculptured separately and delicately incised, Cupid’s wings have been inserted in his back with great precision. Traces of down serve to conceal as well as possible the joining of the wings to the back. The wings are incredibly thick and physical, yet when backlit by the sun they become translucent, with a splendid golden hue.
Every detail of this work is a stunning demonstration of Canova’s virtuosity as a sculptor of marble.
In the nineteenth century the statue was as popular as ever. A drawing of the embrace by Auguste Rodin was engraved in 1886 by Felix Bracquemond. Rodin then sculpted another Cupid and Psyche, whose later title, Eternal Spring, conjures up the tranquil innocence of the original Canova.
But Psyche’s curiosity got the better of her; and no sooner had she had breathed in the terrible fumes than she fell into a deep, deathlike sleep. Seeing her lying motionless, Cupid rushed to her and touched her gently with the tip of his arrow, to make sure she was not dead. This is the moment caught by the sculptor: Cupid lifts his beloved Psyche in a tender embrace, his face close to hers. Psyche lets herself sink slowly backwards, languorously taking her lover’s head between her hands.
Since ancient times Psyche has been depicted with butterfly wings. This is a reference to the dual meaning of her name, Psukhē, in Greek: soul and butterfly. Thus did the butterfly become the symbol of the immortality of the soul.
The story of Psyche symbolizes the ordeals the soul must undergo in order to achieve happiness and immortality.
The History behind the Sculpture " Psyche revived by Cupids kiss"
Having been recently awakened, Psyche reaches up towards her lover, cupid as he gently holds her by supporting her head and breast. Antonio Canova's fine technique in carving marble contrasts their realistic smooth skin with the surrounding elements. Loosely draped around Psyche’s lower body, a sheet further emphasizes the difference between the texture of skin and drapery. Rough texture provides the basis of the rock upon which the composition is placed supplementing the distinctions of elements. Fine curls and lines make up the hair and light feathery details create realistic wings upon the landing Cupid.
In Apuleius, Psyche had been warned by venus against opening the jar she was given to collect a scrap of beauty from Proserpina for Venus: "’But I give you one especially strong warning. Do not open or peep into the jaryou carry, and repress all curiosity as to the "Imprisoned Treasure of Divine Beauty"." But she gave way to curiosity just as she had returned from her voyage into the Undrworld, peering into the jar to take some of the Divine Beauty for herself. However, Proserpina had not filled it with the Beauty, but rather with the “Sleep of the Innermost Darkness, the night of Styx, which freed from its cell rushed upon her and penetrated her whole body with a heavy cloud of unconsciousness and unfolded her where she lay.” It is the moment in which Psyche is “a corpse asleep” revived by Cupid that Canova chose to depict. “Delicately purging her of the Sleep, which he put back in its original lair the jar, he roused Psyche with a charming prick of his Arrow.”Various details such as the jar behind Psyche allude to the story by Apuleius as Psyche had just opened it and had gone to sleep thus the jar remains lying beside her. Additionally, the arrow which Cupid struck Psyche with to awaken her is also found near the jar and Cupid wears a quiver next to his waist.
