Although there are no references to Psyche in Greek literature, and only two by subsequent Roman writers, she was depicted relatively frequently in classical art. Psyche was especially popular in the art of ancient Rome and appeared in paintings, bronze and terra-cotta statuettes, and relief sculptures on sarcophagi. Sometimes she appeared by herself, but more often she was paired with Cupid. Some representations are clearly illustrations of scenes from Apuleius’s story, while others simply depict the two lovers together. The lovers continued to be a popular subject in later years. Painters who depicted Psyche and Cupid— often at the moment when Psyche sees her sleeping lover by lamplight for the first time—include Raphael (1483—1520), Giorgio Vasari (1511—1574), and Lo Schiavone (1522—1563) in the 16th century; Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640), Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641), and Luca Giordano (1632-1705) in the 17th century; and numerous French and English artists in the 18th and 19th centuries. Two famous statues of Psyche are located in the Louvre in Paris, one by French sculptor Augustin Pajou (1730-1809), the other by Italian sculptor Antonio Canova (1757-1822). Psyche’s story also inspired works by English poets John Keats (1795-1821) and William Morris (1834-1896), and various musical compositions, including the symphonic poem Psyche by French composer Cesar Franck (1822-1890) and several operas.
Anthony Bulloch
Bibliography
Apuleius, and Joel C. Relihan, ed. The Tale of Cupid and Psyche.
Indianapolis, IN: Hackett, 2009.
Bulfinch, Thomas. Bulfinch’s Mythology. New York: Barnes &
Noble, 2006.
World History
