Mount Olympus Scene after Raphael
Paris: 19th Century
Paris: 19th Century
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Raphael Sanzio d'Urbino (1483-1520) (after) Mariage (engraver) Tout L'Olympe en Rumeur [All Olympus in a Hubbub] Stipple engraving printed in color, finished by hand Bance, Paris: 2nd Quarter 19th Century 16.5 x 20 inches, sheet 13.25 x 18 inches, image $1,500 |
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The print depicts the culmination of the story of Cupid and Psyche from Roman mythology, in which the two lovers fly to Mount Olympus and appeal to Jupiter to stop Venus from continually pursuing and punishing them. It is one of many based on frescoes and other works by Raphael, generally considered one of the greatest artists of the Italian High Renaissance and an accomplished architect as well. As chief archeologist to the Pope, he was involved in the excavation of the ancient Golden House of Nero, and adapted many of the elaborate Roman frescoes he saw there in creating his own innovative painted wall and ceiling designs in the Vatican and private villas in Rome. The early 19th Century saw a tremendous revival of interest in the classical art of ancient Greece and Rome, as well as the Classicism of the Renaissance. Prints such as these served both as art historical references for architects and designers and as artwork in their own right.
According to the myth, Psyche, daughter of a king, is a maiden so lovely that she has become famous throughout the land and admirers travel to worship her beauty. Venus, feeling neglected by worshippers and jealous of her mortal rival, sends her son Cupid to earth to place a curse on Psyche. Instead he falls in love with her, and Psyche with him. This leads to further vengeance from Venus, and a series of events in which both Cupid and Psyche suffer, finally resulting in Venus imprisoning Cupid. He escapes, collects Psyche, and, as shown in this print, the two lovers finally decide that enough is enough, and fly up to Mount Olympus to appeal to Jupiter to intervene and make sure Venus does not cause any further trouble. Jupiter agrees and calls an assembly of the gods and goddesses where he announces he will confer immortality on Psyche and thus make her a goddess. This suits Venus, because Psyche will no longer be distracting men on earth, and the story ends happily with the marriage of Cupid and Psyche--whose names literally mean Love and Soul. Text in French on the print explains the scene: Psiche voyant echouer toutes se tentatives, se determine a prendre un parti dangerous, que lui impose la necessite: ira-t-elle encore s'exposer a des refus humiliants? Non, elle prefere se livrer elle-meme a la Deesse qui la poursuit. Cependant la mere de Cupidon nourrissait toujours dans son Coeur la meme esprit de haime et de vengeance: dans sa colere; elle importune sans cesse les Dieux pour les interesser a une injure qu'elle resent si vivement. Jupiter entoure des immortels, recoit sa plainte au milieu des airs. L'Amour prend la defense de son amante, et intercede en sa faveur le maitre du Tonnerre. Rough translation: Psyche seeing that all her attempts have failed, is determined to take a dangerous course of action, which necessity imposes on her: will she still be exposed to a humiliating refusal? No, she prefers to speak in person to the Goddess who pursues her. However, the mother of Cupid continues to nourish the same spirit of hatred and vengeance in her Heart: in her anger; she unceasingly importunes the Gods to consider the insult that she resents so highly. Jupiter, surrounded by the immortals, receives her complaint in the midst of the sky. Cupid takes the defense of his lover, and the master of Thunder intercedes in her favor. Condition: Generally very good with the usual light toning, wear, soiling, soft creases. Reference: Hamilton, Edith. Mythology. New York: Mentor Books: 1942. pp. 92-100. |