Here is a sensual and enigmatic interpretation of the myth of Eros and Psyche, where the artist captures the intimacy of the lovers. Dell’Abbate offers a singular vision of this ancient legend, departing from conventional representations to focus on the moment after the revelation. The bodies intertwine in a choreography of delicate gestures, bathed in golden light.
The composition, masterfully orchestrated, places the lovers in a sumptuous bed with shimmering draperies, creating a precious setting for this mythological love scene. The artist transcends simple narrative to immerse us in the psychological ambiguity of the moment, perhaps that of reunion after transgression, where reconciliation emerges in the tenderness of exchanged glances.
Work Details
- Niccolò dell’Abbate, Eros and Psyche, between 1512 and 1571
- Oil on canvas
- 39¼ × 36½ in. (99.7 × 92.7 cm)
- Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase, Robert H. Tannahill Foundation Fund, 65.347
- https://dia.org/collection/eros-and-psyche-24109
Niccolò dell’Abbate (1512-1571) embodied the cultural bridge between Italy and Renaissance France. Trained in Modena and then Bologna, he joined the illustrious School of Fontainebleau in 1552, becoming one of the principal propagators of Italian Mannerism on French soil. As a collaborator with Primaticcio on the decorations of the royal château, he developed a style characterized by the elegance of elongated silhouettes, sophisticated poses, and a palette of refined tonalities. This work demonstrates his exceptional mastery in the treatment of flesh tones and textiles. Dell’Abbate achieves the remarkable feat of appropriating an ancient myth to create a work deeply imbued with the courtly and Mannerist aesthetic that revolutionized French art of the 16th century, lastingly influencing European painting.
