Art History

   The Neoclassical era began with the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century and continued on into the 19th century. In terms of other art periods, it nearly paralleled with Romanticism and initially began as a counter-movement to the Rococo. It was a movement that aimed to return to classical forms of Greek and Roman art. The sculpture Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss by Antonio Canova is one of the more well-known pieces of Neoclassical art. In this short essay I will focus on this work and how it was received as a Neoclassical piece.

   Antonio Canova was an Italian sculptor from the Republic of Venice. He was skilled from a young age and qualified to show work before public tribunal by the time he was sixteen. Of his work, he was most famous for his rendering of nude flesh. The skill with which he crafted his sculptures, however, was not obtained lightly. He placed an intense focus on the studies of anatomy and natural life and for a long period of time swore not to sleep each day until he had produced some kind of design. After the creation of his Orpheus, he obtained relative fame. As he progressed in his career, he epitomized Neoclassical art, rejecting the theatrics of the Baroque and instead seeking classical refinement.

   As a Neoclassical art piece, Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss obviously draws from classical mythology, as a take on the tale of Cupid and Psyche. By the story, Psyche opens a flask containing Sleep, thinking that it contains Beauty. After falling into a deep slumber in the Underworld, she is awoken by Cupid who pierces he with an arrow. The statue by Canova includes all of these details; the flask on the ground next to the arrow, a quiver strapped around Cupid’s back and thus stays true to the original mythology. In terms of execution, the piece is dynamic and fluid, able to be viewed from any angle. At the time of its creation, it actually received criticism for this trait, as one critic complained that it was too confusing not knowing what angle to view it from. However this quality gives the statue a sense of encompassment and makes it realistically impactful from all sides.

   In summary, Canova was a neoclassical artist who rose quickly to fame from a young age. He was especially known for his nude figures and his handling of flesh which can clearly be seen in the work Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss in which Psyche reaches up to embrace Cupid in a kiss as she emerges from a deep sleep. This statue is characteristic of Canova’s work which was often designed to be rotated on a platform and can be viewed from all sides. At any angle, the statue remains aesthetically pleasant and fluid. Like many of Canova’s works, the work remains true to Neoclassical style, taking both technique and subject matter form Ancient Greek influence.