(once this was a plain rock, Antonio Canova carved that wonderfull statue out of it… )
“Oh foolish Psyche, is it thus you repay my love? After I disobeyed my mother’s commands and made you my wife, will you think me a monster and cut off my head? But go; return to your sisters, whose advice you seem to think preferable to mine. I inflict no other punishment on you than to leave you for ever. Love cannot dwell with suspicion.”
Envious of Psyche, whose beauty rivaled even that of the goddess herself, Aphrodite ordered her son Eros to make her fall in love with the ugliest mortal in the world. Instead, Eros fell in love with Psyche himself . Meeting with her surreptitiously at night, Eros told Psyche that they could continue to meet as long as she never illuminated any lamps to discover his identity. When Psyche’s jealous sisters coerced her into defying Eros’ wishes, Eros fled.
Eager to regain his trust and hand in marriage, Psyche consulted his mother Aphrodite, who required her to perform a series of tasks in the hopes that she would not be able to complete them. When Aphrodite ordered Psyche to go into the underworld and collect some of Persephone’s beauty in a box, Psyche desired the beauty she held in her hands. When she opened the box she fell into a deep sleep until revived by Eros with a kiss (Wikipedia). She was then taken to Mount Olympus where she was granted immortality to live with Eros.
This sculpture by Antonio Canova recreates the moment at which Psyche awakens from her deathly sleep by the kiss of Eros. The dynamic sculpture conveys a deep sense of love, passion and energy as Eros sweeps from the sky to awaken Psyche from her slumber. Psyche throws up her arms elegantly to receive Eros’ kiss .
@ webshots
@ google
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