The marriage of Psyche and Cupid
1795â1800
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors
Accession Number
1901-39-3377
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Felice Giani (1758–1823), a prominent Italian artist of the Neoclassical period captures the enchanting moment of *The Marriage of Psyche andid* in this drawing around 1795–1800. Drawing from the timeless Roman tale in Apuleius's *The Golden Ass*, the artwork depicts the divine union of the mortal Psyche and the god of love, Cupid popular motif symbolizing eternal devotion triumphing over trials. Giani, who trained in Bologna and worked extensively in Rome and Faenza, infused his works with the elegance of classical antiquity, inspired by ancient frescoes unearthed at Pompeii and Herculaneum. ...