Psyche Discovering the Sleeping Cupid
Artist: Luca Giordano (Italian, 1634-1705)
Date; c. 1695-1697
Medium: Oil on copper
Collection: Royal Collection Trust, London, United Kingdom
Description
Apuleius described Cupid sleeping while Psyche illuminates his beautiful youthful figure with her lamp:
'a milk-white neck, and rosy cheeks over which there strayed coils of hair becomingly arranged, some hanging in front, some behind, shining with such extreme brilliance that the lamplight itself flickered uncertainly. On the shoulders of the flying god wings sparkled dewy-white with glistening sheen, and though they were at rest the delicate down at their edges quivered and rippled in incessant play. The rest of the god's body was smooth and shining and such as Venus need not be ashamed of in her son. At the foot of the bed lay a bow, a quiver and arrows, the gracious weapons of the great god.'
Psyche examines Cupid's arrows and accidentally pricks herself, thus falling in love with Love. Unfortunately, as she leans over him a drop of hot lamp oil falls on his shoulder. He wakes and flies off without a word; Psyche catches him by the leg and 'trailing attendance through the clouds she clung on below'. Two figures watch the scene through parted bed curtains, while against a moonlit sky Cupid flies away with Psyche clinging to his leg, her knife and lamp, still burning, abandoned on the ground.