Cupid and Psyche thumbnail 1
Cupid and Psyche thumbnail 2
+2
images
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Cupid and Psyche

Group
ca. 1898 (made)
Artist/Maker
Rodin (designer)
Place of origin
France (made)

This sculpture developed from one of the groups in The Gates of Hell (the bronze portal and doors for the new Museum of Decorative Arts, Paris, which Rodin was asked to design in 1880). Rodin explored the subject over a number of years, the earliest dating from before 1886, and produced it in several other versions, as well as drawing it repeatedly.

This marble version was carved by one of his trusted assistants, under his supervision. This was normal workshop practice at the time and it is known that Rodin himself did not carve marble sculptures. The contrast of the rough-hewn rock with the smooth surface of the figures indicates Rodin's admiration for the work of Michelangelo.

Object details

Category
Sculpture
Object type
Group
TitleCupid and Psyche (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Marble
Marble
Brief description
Group, Cupid and Psyche, by Auguste Rodin, French, marble, ca. 1898
Dimensions
  • Height: 101cm
Gallery label
(2021)
Auguste Rodin (1840–1917)
Cupid and Psyche
About 1908

Rodin returned time and again to the theme of Cupid and Psyche, beginning in the 1880s with his sculptures for The Gates of Hell. The smoothly finished figures emerging from rough-hewn rock reflect his admiration for the work of Michelangelo. Marble versions of Rodin’s sculptures like this were usually carved by assistants under his supervision. This was normal workshop practice at the time.

Paris
Marble
(June 2006)
This group illustrates Rodin's distinctive working of marble, in particular in the way the two figures are seen emerging from the quarried block.
(March 2007)
Rodin explored this subject over a number of years, beginning in the 1880s with his work for the Gates of Hell. The smoothly finished figures emerging from rough-hewn rock reflect his admiration for the work of Michelangelo. Marble versions of Rodin's sculpture were usually carved by assistants under his supervision. This was normal workshop practice at the time.
Credit line
Given by Rodin in November 1914
Object history
Given by Rodin in November 1914
Subjects depicted
Cupid
Psyche
Summary
This sculpture developed from one of the groups in The Gates of Hell (the bronze portal and doors for the new Museum of Decorative Arts, Paris, which Rodin was asked to design in 1880). Rodin explored the subject over a number of years, the earliest dating from before 1886, and produced it in several other versions, as well as drawing it repeatedly.

This marble version was carved by one of his trusted assistants, under his supervision. This was normal workshop practice at the time and it is known that Rodin himself did not carve marble sculptures. The contrast of the rough-hewn rock with the smooth surface of the figures indicates Rodin's admiration for the work of Michelangelo.
Bibliographic references
  • Hawkins, Jennifer, Rodin Sculptures, London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1975, p.26, ill.24
  • Alley, Ronald. Tate Gallery Catalogues: Foreign Paintings, Drawings & Sculpture. Londo, 1959. pp. 222-223.
  • Newton, Joy. Rodin is a British Institution. Burlington Magazine. CXXXVI. Dec. 1994/ p. 827.
  • Mitchell, Claudine. The Zola of Sculpture. In: Mitchell, Claudine. ed. Rodin: The Zola of Sculpture. Henry Moore Institute, 2003. pp. 183-200.
  • Trusted, Majorie. ed. The Making of Sculpture: the Materials and Techniques of European Sculpture. London: V&A Publications, 2007. p. 95. pl. 164.
  • Elliott, Ann and Dyer, Angela (Ed.), Rodin in Lewes, Lewes, Lewes District Council, 1999
  • Lampert, Catherine, Rodin, London, Royal Academy of Arts, 2006
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.49-1914

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Record createdJune 5, 2007
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O135952/cupid-and-psyche-group-rodin/
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