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Engraving Love and Psyche by François-Edouard Picot (1786-1868)
KM010518
The myth of Love and Psyche has been the subject of numerous representations, often imbued with great sensuality.
Here, Cupid is depicted as a young man leaving Psyche's bed while she is still fast asleep. He gazes tenderly at his sleeping lover, contemplating her beauty. In the background, we can make out the enchanted palace where Cupid took Psyche to protect her from the wrath of Venus, her mother, who was jealous of the young woman's charms. He hurries off, arm outstretched towards his bow and quiver, before she wakes up: she must not discover his true identity. Together, Love and Psyche embody the power of love, and have inspired many artists.
The composition of the original painting was devised by François Edouard Picot, a French neo-classical painter, during a visit to Rome in 1817. The work was an immediate success, and the artist was awarded first prize at the 1819 Salon for his work. Also renowned for the quality of his teaching, François Edouard Picot trained many talented pupils in his studio, including Gustave Moreau, William Bouguereau, Alexandre Cabanel, Jean-Jacques Henner and Léon Belly.
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