Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss
I look at this work and I still think of love. It’s been about four years since I saw it for the first time in English class. Obviously, when my teacher asked us if this is art, I said “yes!” How could it not be? It looks like something Michelangelo created, but it wasn’t Michelangelo. In fact, it was produced long after his death. 223 years after his death to be exact. I didn’t know any of this at the time. I didn’t even know what the title meant. In complete honesty, I had no idea that the people were personifying Cupid and Psyche. For some reason, I was like why would Psyche be a person. Isn’t “the psyche” a thing? Turns out, both are definitely true if you believe the ancient story. Once I realized this was a story of love rescuing the psyche, my jaw dropped. Is it not the most pleasant thing to be reminded and comforted by the fact that love conquers all? It was a rom-com daydream for my 17 year old self.
This piece was made in 1787. That was a long time ago, but it echoes the style of the Greek Classical Period, which dates back to B.C.E. This makes perfect sense because Antonio Canova was part of the Neoclassicism movement. It’s easy to identify based on the content’s allusion to classical mythology and the use of marble. This is a beautiful homage to marble sculptures and stories of love.