Artwork
Cupid and Psyche
Cupid and Psyche is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Polidoro da Caravaggio. It is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Cupid and Psyche is a mythological oil painting by Polidoro da Caravaggio, created around 1531.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a winged woman, likely Psyche, bending to touch a small, naked boy, probably Cupid, who stands on a rocky outcropping. Their faces are obscured by shadow, emphasizing the figures' physical forms.
Technique & Style
The artist achieved a three-dimensional effect through the use of chiaroscuro, a technique that employs strong contrasts between light and dark to create volume. Light from the side illuminates the figures, carving them out of the dark background.
History & Provenance
The painting is now held at the State Hermitage Museum.
Artist & collection
![A Deathbed Scene [recto], by Polidoro da Caravaggio](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/polidoro-da-caravaggio--a-deathbed-scene-recto--003a0ab85138063d-w320.webp)
![Woman Seated with a Piece of Cloth [verso], by Polidoro da Caravaggio](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/polidoro-da-caravaggio--woman-seated-with-a-piece-of-cloth-verso--ec763632d6897d6a-w320.webp)
