[스크랩] [畵] Cupid & Psyche (1889)

Cupid and Psyche as Children

 

[Oil on canvas, 47 x 27 ^7/8 inches (119.5 x 71 cm), Private collection]

 

 

 

The story of Cupid and Psyche was one of Bouguereau’s favorite myths.

He painted several works inspired from this legend, such as The Rapture of

Psyche, Psyche and Cupid, and Psyche.

The myth of Cupid and Phsyche first appears written in The Golden Age of

Lucius Apuleius in the 2nd century AD.

In the story, Psyche is a beautiful princess of whom the goddess Venus is

jealous.

In her rage she orders her son cupid to make Psyche fall in love with

a monster, but Cupid falls in love with her himself.

After several trials Cupid and Psyche make their plea to the gods who turn

Psyche into an immortal and allow them to be married in heaven.

In this painting Bouguereau was inspired to paint the two lovers together

as children.

Demonstrating that fate itself had a hand in their meeting.

They were born to be together.

The subtle paint handling captures the children's innocence and illustrates

to the viewer that Cupid's original attraction to Psyche was not purely

physical, but also platonic, for the innocence of childhood does not allow

for anything else.

You cannot have true love without also having a mutual trust and respect,

and a relaxed and enduring companionship between lovers.

Cupid and Psyche’s union then is not just physical : they are soul mates

and compliment each other eternally.

 

[by Kara Ross]

 

 

 

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