The Story of Cupid and Psyche by Jacopo del Sellaio (1442 – 1493)  

About the Painting

By Kate Noble

This is one of a series of posts from Inspire: A Celebration of Children's Art at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge from the 10th December 2019 until the 22nd March 2020. 

The Story of Cupid and Psyche Sellaio, Jacopo del; painter; Italian artist, 1441/2-1493
The Story of Cupid and Psyche c.1473;  Sellaio, Jacopo del; painter; Italian artist, 1441/2-1493; Tempera and gold on a wooden panel

This picture tells the first half of the ancient Greek story of a human princess, Psyche, who marries the god of love, Cupid. It was painted for a very grand bedroom in fifteenth-century Florence, which doubled as an entertaining space for the wife’s friends. The bedchamber was furnished at the time of a wedding, with a bed and chests but also painted stories that celebrated the love of a newly married couple. This story highlights the loyalty of the bride to the groom, as was expected in the fifteenth century.  

The Story of Cupid and Psyche 

The story is read from left to right like a cartoon strip. 

Young Psyche with her courtiers when Cupid first sets eyes on her - a close up of Del Sellaio's Cupid and Psyche painted in 1473 in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Young Psyche with her courtiers when Cupid first sets eyes on her - a close up of Del Sellaio's Cupid and Psyche painted in 1473 in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

Cupid is sent to cast a spell on Psyche by his mother Venus, who is jealous of Psyche’s beauty.

Cupid sets eyes of Psyche and cannot follow through his mother, Venus's, evil plan - close up of Cupid and Psyche by Del Sellaio 1473 at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Cupid sets eyes of Psyche and cannot follow through his mother, Venus's, evil plan - close up of Cupid and Psyche by Del Sellaio 1473 at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge

Cupid falls in love with Psyche and is unable to carry out Venus’ evil plan. 

Psyche is blown off the hill by Zephyrus the wind - a detail in a painting by Del Sellaio of Cupid and Psyche painted in 1473
Psyche is blown off the hill by Zephyrus the wind - a detail in a painting by Del Sellaio of Cupid and Psyche painted in 1473

Psyche is blown off the top of a mountain by the god Zephyr who carries her safely down to rest in a soft bower.

Psyche lands on a soft bower - a detail in a painting by Del Sellaio of Cupid and Psyche painted in 1473
'Psyche lands on a soft bower' - a detail from Cupid and Psyche by Del Sellaio painted in 1473

When she awakes, she finds herself at a beautiful palace where she is welcomed by an invisible, but kind, master (Cupid, in hiding from his mother). He invites Psyche to live with him on the condition that she will never ask his true identity. They are happy for a while but then Psyche’s sisters persuade her to look at him whilst he sleeps. A drop of oil lands on his skin, he wakes up and is angered by Psyche’s lack of trust.   

This is an image from a Renaissance painting painted in the 15th Century by a painter named Jacopo Del Sellaio. This is a close up of the character Psyche lifting Cupids wing. Follow this link to find out How this painting became loved by primary school children in Cambridgeshire
Detail: Psyche lifting Cupid's wing; The Story of Cupid and Psyche c.1473;  Sellaio, Jacopo del; painter; Italian artist, 1441/2-1493; Tempera and gold on a wooden panel

The story continues in a second panel (in a private collection). Cupid returns to his mother, Psyche searches for him and is captured and enslaved by Venus. Cupid pleads with Jupiter, king of the gods, to free Psyche. He agrees, and Cupid and Psyche are married.  

Does the story remind you of any other fairy tales you know? 

Go back to Inspire: A Celebration of Children’s Art in Response to Jacopo del Sellaio’s Cupid and Psyche

Inspire ArtWork from the Fitzwilliam Museum - An exhibtion of children's work inspired by the Renaissance artist Del Sellaio, In collaboration with AccessArt

 

Inspire – December to March 2020, was an exhibition of art made by primary school children and celebrated creativity in Cambridgeshire schools. It championed the on-going importance of cultural learning and the visual arts for all children and young people.

Based on the National Gallery’s Take One Picture, The Fitzwilliam Museum and AccessArt teamed together to offer free Inspire 2020 CPD (Continued Professional Development for Teachers), focusing on one painting, Cupid and Psyche by Jacopo del Sellaio, as a source of ideas and inspiration.

Del Sellaio’s Cupid and Psyche was on display next to the children’s work in the Octagon Gallery.

With very special thanks to Kate Noble,  Miranda Stearn, Sarah Villis, and Holly Morrison for making this project happen and Alison Ayres.

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