Antonio Canova Psyche Revived By Cupid's Kiss
Antonio Canova, a successful Italian sculptor from the Republic of Venice, was known for his enchanting sculptures that I consider to be the essence of Neoclassicism. The neoclassical style influenced almost all European masterpieces including architecture, paintings and sculptures, in the eighteenth century, also known as the Age of Enlightenment. It constitutes as the heart of classic antiquity that was inspired by the classical period. This approach to art continues to impact the architecture constructed today. The artist I am focusing on, Antonio Canova, is studied as the greatest neoclassical sculptor for his brilliant carvings of nude marble mythological fellows. One classic in particular is Canova’s Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss,
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which displays the two lovers at an extremely emotional state. Psyche Revived by Cupids Kiss is an intense, captivating work, which materializes the movement of Romanticism and is the epitome of Neoclassicism.
The work of Antonio Canova was the epitome of the neoclassical style due to his work pronouncing a restoration to classical elegance. Canova was born in 1757 in Possagno and lost both of his parents at the age of three. It interests me to regard that his father’s death and mother’s remarrying perhaps contributed to his passion for carving these works to represent deep, extraordinary affection. The marble pieces are also made to be nude, which could conceivably serve as the exposure to utmost emotion as well as classicism. Antonio Canova
Prinzivalli 2 began his career in Rome, where classical tradition was notably evident, in 1780, which marked a new stage in his life.
He rooted his fame in Rome by designing Theseus Vanquishing the Minotaur, which can now be found in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Canova also traveled to France and England, where he would promote his works and establish himself as a widely known artist, although he never neglected Rome as his home. His last projects continued to award Italy with admiration and his masterpieces would be recognized all over the country.
Antonio Canova’s Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss is a sculpture showing a mythical creature, Cupid, who can be identified by his wings and arrows, and an unconscious female named Psyche. The masterpiece presents the two nude on a rock, telling the story of how curiosity got the best of one of the lovers. Psyche had opened a forbidden flask from the underworld and fell into a deathly sleep. As you can see in the sculpture, Cupid is caressing Psyche who is faintly embracing her lover by trying to take his head in her hands as she slowly sinks into her death. This masterpiece by Canova was inspired from a legend told by the Latin author, Apuleius. At the ending of the fantasy, the gods decide to stipend Cupid with the gift of immortality to Psyche, allowing him to marry his love who is now the goddess of the soul. The sculpture is an exceptionally strong work of art, depicting the most powerful detail in the story of Cupid and Psyche, which took an “extensive amount of research” (Draper) for Antonio Canova in order to achieve such an exquisite portrayal of this factor in the
tale.
Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss was a very dramatic masterpiece during the time of Neoclassicism, meaning it contains the neoclassical elements an art piece in this age should have. The geometry, archaeological correctness and, in this case, lack of clothing, all represent the neoclassic style. Antonio Canova explored many different works of art to expand his desire to
Prinzivalli 3 carry out the neoclassic style. A Roman painting, A Faun and a Bacchante, was the main inspiration for Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss. Canova essentially imitated the position of the man and woman in this painting, intertwining the bodies of Psyche and Cupid in a very similar way. The geometry in Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss include circles and triangles where the point of the arms are in a close, circular development while Psyche and Cupid’s legs are in a position that make a pyramid. Cupid’s wings are also in an upright position, highlighting the rising movement and the lover’s heads have a bit of a space between them before the final grasp. The two are also in the nude, only covered by each other and a thin drape, which was certainly not uncommon in Canova’s work contributing to the neoclassical style.
In conclusion, Antonio Canova’s Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss is an exceedingly emotional masterpiece that highly influenced Romanticism. It is purely relevant to the era of Neoclassicism and is to be noted as an important work of the neoclassic style. The architecture, paintings, sculptures and other forms of art at this time created much appreciation during the Age of Enlightenment. Canova’s work brought back the classical period and is still influencing all different kinds of artists today. Antonio Canova should be recognized as the leading sculptor for the neoclassic style. His masterpiece, Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss, is the epitome of Neoclassicism.
which displays the two lovers at an extremely emotional state. Psyche Revived by Cupids Kiss is an intense, captivating work, which materializes the movement of Romanticism and is the epitome of Neoclassicism.
The work of Antonio Canova was the epitome of the neoclassical style due to his work pronouncing a restoration to classical elegance. Canova was born in 1757 in Possagno and lost both of his parents at the age of three. It interests me to regard that his father’s death and mother’s remarrying perhaps contributed to his passion for carving these works to represent deep, extraordinary affection. The marble pieces are also made to be nude, which could conceivably serve as the exposure to utmost emotion as well as classicism. Antonio Canova
Prinzivalli 2 began his career in Rome, where classical tradition was notably evident, in 1780, which marked a new stage in his life.
He rooted his fame in Rome by designing Theseus Vanquishing the Minotaur, which can now be found in London at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Canova also traveled to France and England, where he would promote his works and establish himself as a widely known artist, although he never neglected Rome as his home. His last projects continued to award Italy with admiration and his masterpieces would be recognized all over the country.
Antonio Canova’s Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss is a sculpture showing a mythical creature, Cupid, who can be identified by his wings and arrows, and an unconscious female named Psyche. The masterpiece presents the two nude on a rock, telling the story of how curiosity got the best of one of the lovers. Psyche had opened a forbidden flask from the underworld and fell into a deathly sleep. As you can see in the sculpture, Cupid is caressing Psyche who is faintly embracing her lover by trying to take his head in her hands as she slowly sinks into her death. This masterpiece by Canova was inspired from a legend told by the Latin author, Apuleius. At the ending of the fantasy, the gods decide to stipend Cupid with the gift of immortality to Psyche, allowing him to marry his love who is now the goddess of the soul. The sculpture is an exceptionally strong work of art, depicting the most powerful detail in the story of Cupid and Psyche, which took an “extensive amount of research” (Draper) for Antonio Canova in order to achieve such an exquisite portrayal of this factor in the
tale.
Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss was a very dramatic masterpiece during the time of Neoclassicism, meaning it contains the neoclassical elements an art piece in this age should have. The geometry, archaeological correctness and, in this case, lack of clothing, all represent the neoclassic style. Antonio Canova explored many different works of art to expand his desire to
Prinzivalli 3 carry out the neoclassic style. A Roman painting, A Faun and a Bacchante, was the main inspiration for Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss. Canova essentially imitated the position of the man and woman in this painting, intertwining the bodies of Psyche and Cupid in a very similar way. The geometry in Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss include circles and triangles where the point of the arms are in a close, circular development while Psyche and Cupid’s legs are in a position that make a pyramid. Cupid’s wings are also in an upright position, highlighting the rising movement and the lover’s heads have a bit of a space between them before the final grasp. The two are also in the nude, only covered by each other and a thin drape, which was certainly not uncommon in Canova’s work contributing to the neoclassical style.
In conclusion, Antonio Canova’s Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss is an exceedingly emotional masterpiece that highly influenced Romanticism. It is purely relevant to the era of Neoclassicism and is to be noted as an important work of the neoclassic style. The architecture, paintings, sculptures and other forms of art at this time created much appreciation during the Age of Enlightenment. Canova’s work brought back the classical period and is still influencing all different kinds of artists today. Antonio Canova should be recognized as the leading sculptor for the neoclassic style. His masterpiece, Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss, is the epitome of Neoclassicism.