Artwork
Cupid and Psyche
Cupid and Psyche is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Jacques-Louis David. It dates from 1813 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This drawing is a preparatory study for Jacques-Louis David's painting Cupid and Psyche. It showcases the artist's process in working out the composition before transferring it to canvas.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts Cupid leaning over Psyche, who lies asleep on a rock, her body curved in a relaxed pose. The scene represents a moment from the mythological tale of the two lovers.
Technique & Style
David employed layers of diluted gray wash and black ink outlines to achieve a monochromatic representation of the scene. The use of chiaroscuro, an artistic technique that utilizes strong contrasts between light and dark, is evident in the rendering of the figures.
History & Provenance
The drawing is part of a group of studies related to the painting Cupid and Psyche, which is also held in the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection. Minor adjustments, such as Cupid's facial expression, were made between the drawing and the final painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jacques-Louis David was born in Paris on 30 August 1748 into a bourgeois family; his father died in a duel when the boy was nine, and a maternal uncle guided his education.
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Cupid and Psyche
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