Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss

Question 1

Subject?

Answer 1

The sculpture represents the godCupid in the height of love and tenderness, immediately
after awakening the mortal sleeping Psyche with a kiss.

Question 2

Classical Subject?

Answer 2

The mythological story is taken from Lucius Apuleius’ Latin novel The Golden Ass, and was
a popular subject amongst 18th century artists.

Question 3

Sense of Passion?

Answer 3

Cupid caresses Psyche’s face with his right hand while his left covers her right breast. She
takes his head between her hands and pulling his face closer to hers in an intense
interchange of gazes

Question 4

Composition?

Answer 4

Narrative drama is heightened by the sharp diagonals, such as Cupid’s wings and flexed
leg give the sculpture an upward thrust, while serpentine forms, such as Psyche’s
languishing torso, anchor it solidly to the rock upon which she lies. This combination of
horizontal and vertical accents lends great movement to the work, prompting the viewer
to examine the sculpture in the round.

Question 5

Neoclassical style?

Answer 5

Whereas the Greeks and Romans sculpted bodies emphasising the anatomy and
musculature of the human figure, Canova’s Neoclassical style focuses on the fluidity of
line, grace and the softness of the flesh. Idealised forms and delicate rendering of drapery
reflect the growing influence of Neoclassicism. However Canova shows the mythological
lovers at a moment of great emotion, characteristic of the emerging movement
of Romanticism.

Question 6

Faun and Bacchante fresco at Herculaneum?

Answer 6

Numerous sketches suggest Canova was inspired by the frescoes of the Faun and
Bacchante he encountered at Herculaneum - Canova elegantly refines the two figures
clinging violently to each other in a violent embrace.

Question 7

Cupid and Psyche standing?

Answer 7

A similar sculpture produced by Canova – suggests that the classical subject with themes
of spiritual love transcending the senses preoccupied Canova.

Question 8

Antithesis of age of enlightenment values?

Answer 8

The passionate love story between the godCupid and the mortal, Psyche embodies the
Age of Enlightenment conflict between reasonand feeling. In this case, however,
romantic love has clearly overpowered any sense of duty.

Question 9

Two different strands of the
Neoclassicism: Canova vs. Jacques
Louis David?

Answer 9

The idealised and graceful beauty of Canova’s figures, as well as his emphasis
on themes of mythological love and passion (Paolina Borghese as Venus
Victorious) appealed to the tastes of the wealthy Grand Tourist - departing
from the rigid compositions and scenes of exemplum virtutis of Jacques
Louis David (Oath of the Horatii) –which became the unofficial style of the
French Revolution –informed by Englightenment ideals of rationality and
individual liberty.

Question 10

Discovery of Herculaneum and Pompeii?

Answer 10

In the 18th century, the discoveries of the ancient Roman towns of Herculaneum and
Pompeii prompted a revival in interest of classical antiquity. Naples, Pompeii,
and Herculaneum became important stops on the European Grand Tour made by English
visitors.

Question 11

Winckelmann?

Answer 11

German classicistJohann Joachim Winckelmann did much to popularize the excavations. (“In
order for us to be great, we must imitate the Greeks)”.

Question 12

The Grand Tour?

Answer 12

During the 18th c it became fashionable for young aristocrats to visit Paris, Venice, Florence,
Rome, as the culmination (finale) of their classical education.

Question 13

Canova?

Answer 13

Born to a family of stonecutters and sculptors, he worked in Venice and Rome, and
travelled extensively around Italy (including visits to Herculaneum and Pompeii). His
popularity amongst the European aristocracy was firmly established by 1800 and he was
appointed Inspector General of Antiquities and Fine Arts of the Papal States. He
produced classical portraits of Napoleon Bonaparte and the wider Bonaparte family.

Question 14

Sir John Campbell (patron) and subsequent owners?

Answer 14

Scottish army colonel who travelled around Italy on the Grand Tour, purchasing
antiquities and commissioning paintings of archaeological sites in Naples and Sicily. He
met Canova in Naples and commissioned this sculpture –however never received it. It
was later acquired by Napoleon’s brother in law while a second version was bought by a
Russian prince.

Question 15

18th century patronage and the Grand Tourist?

Answer 15

Travel was arduous and costly throughout the period, possible only for a privileged class.
The Grand Tourist was typically a young man with a thorough grounding in Greek and
Latin literature. Many artists such as Canova benefited from the patronage of Grand
Tourists eager to procure mementos of their travels.

Question 16

Rotating platform?

Answer 16

Designed to be turned on a mobile base using a handle (a common device in Canova’s
sculptures)

Question 17

Planning?

Answer 17

Canova worked from various preparatory drawings and small modellos before preparing
a full-scale clay maquette, of which a plaster mould was taken. The mould created the
basis for a plaster cast that corresponded to the composition’s final dimensions, which
was transferred to the block of marble for carving.

Question 18

Materials?

Answer 18

Classical connotations, low tensile strength countered by the horiztonal base,
translucency of the marble replicates human flesh. Soft and easy to carve.

Question 19

Techniques?

Answer 19

Hand drill used for precise details e.g. curls of hair, rasps used to replicate the softness of
flesh, the wings are worked meticulously so that light can be seen through the stone,
rough texture provides the basis of the rock.