Description

To be executed in gilt and patinated bronze and statuary marble or alabaster; silvered metal dial

The winged god in the act of donning his sandals, his bow and quiver to one side of an altar fronted by the clock and topped by his lyre and laurel crown with a flaming torch; the frieze with a central scene of Cupid firing an arrow of Love at Psyche 14in. High

In the late Antique fairy tale of Cupid and Psyche, she was so beautiful as to arouse Venus' envy. Cupid was sent by Venus to fire arrows of love at Psyche to make her desire some worthless being, but fell in love with her himself. He visited her only at night and forbade her to see his appearance, but curiosity got the better of her and, urged on by her sisters, one night she lit a lamp in their bedchamber. A drop of hot oil falling on Cupid awoke him, who in his anger deserted her. After some time wandering the earth and performing various tasks, Jupiter took pity on her and Mercury was directed to carry her to heaven, where she was reunited with her lover. They married at a festive banquet.

A clock with a related composition, having a similarly disposed lyre and torch, the lyre being played by a standing Muse, and the bow and quiver now lacking, is in the Spanish royal collection; see Carvajal, 359, #351. Differing clocks, but in this distinctive combination of statuary marble and gilt bronze, are also in the same collection; Carvajal, 293, #279; 294, #280; 392, #388; for a clock with alabaster in place of marble, see 325, #314.

Medium

Watercolour, gouache and pen and ink, on laid paper

Dimensions:

50.80cm wide   68.00cm high (20.00 inches wide  26.77 inches high)

Status

FOR SALE