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Museum August Kestner Ancient Cultures Gemmen, Kameen und Glaspasten. Die Sammlung geschnittener Steine [K 404]
Amor und Psyche im Gespräch (Museum August Kestner CC BY-NC-SA)
Provenance/Rights: Museum August Kestner / Christian Tepper (CC BY-NC-SA)
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Cupid and Psyche in conversation

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Description

"Omnia vincit amor" is an old Latin proverb from Virgil's 10th Eclogue (10, 69) and says that love can conquer everything. - From Roman mythology we know Cupid, son of the god Mars and the goddess Venus, as the god of love or falling in love. The connection to Psyche (Soul), the youngest and most beautiful of three royal daughters, goes back to the oldest romance novel in literature, handed down by Apuleius (2nd century AD).
Cupid is often depicted as a boy with very small wings. His special attributes are the quiver with the arrows and a burning torch. He shoots his (love) arrows in a mischievous manner and thus inflicts pain on those proverbially struck by love. In the visual arts of antiquity, Psyche is characterised by butterfly wings.
The picture, however, shows Cupid and Psyche in reversed roles, for Cupid is bound by his legs. (AVS)

Former August Kestner Collection, Rome

Material/Technique

Sard / carved

Measurements

Height: 1.63 cm, width: 1.55 cm

Detailed description

Amor und Psyche im Gespräch gegenüber. Amor an beiden Beinen gefesselt, stützt eine Hand auf eine zweizinkige Hacke, während er die andere im Redegestus gehoben hat. Sein Flügelpaar steht von den Schultern ab. Scheitelzopffrisur und im Nacken gerolltes Haar. - Psyche, etwas kleiner als Amor, Spielbein zurückgestellt, trägt einen langen Chiton mit Überfall und hat Schmetterlingsflügel an den Schultern. Sie hält Amor eine brennende Fackel hin und weist auf ihn. Melonenfrisur mit Knoten auf dem Hinterkopf, Locken im Nacken. - Grundlinie. Reichlich Anwendung von Rundperl in kleinen, kugeligen Punkten.

Literature

  • Holm, Christiane (2006): Amor und Psyche. Die Erfindung eines Mythos in Kunst, Wissenschaft und Alltagskultur (1765-1840). München, 70 Abb. 226
  • Schlüter, Margildis - Platz-Horster, Gertrud (1975): Antike Gemmen in deutschen Sammlungen IV. Hannover, Kestner Museum, Hamburg, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe. Wiesbaden, 74 Nr. 275
Map
Museum August Kestner

Object from: Museum August Kestner

The Museum August Kestner is named after August Kestner (1777-1853). The oldest municipal museum in the state capital Hanover is enclosed by a listed...

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