The Tale of Love and Psyche: The myth in art from antiquity to Canova

Perin del Vaga, Love and Psyche, 1545-46
Castel Sant'Angelo

The Ministry of Cultural Heritage has decided to celebrate with an exhibition the story of Cupid and Psyche in the Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome, at the end of the restoration of the frieze of Perin del Vaga painted by the artist between 1545 and 1546 in the apartments of Paul III.

The tale is dedicated to one of antiquity’s most fascinating legend, as told by Apuleius in his celebrated The Golden Ass. It can also be compared to the most famous poem (n. 85) of the Latin poet Catullus:

Odi et amo. Qua re id faciam, fortasse requiris.

Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior (Latin text).

Odio e amo. Forse mi chiedi come io faccia.

Non lo so, ma sento che cio' accade, e ne sono tormentato (Italian text).

Hate and love. Perhaps you ask me how I do.

I do not know, but I feel that this is happening and I am tormented (English text).

The touching love story between Cupid and Psyche has inspired artists through the ages. 

The most famous examples are: 

Raphael’s frescoes in the home of Agostino Chigi, the famous loggia in Villa Farnesina, 

Giulio Romano’s equally famous frescoes in Mantua’s Palazzo Te

 Canova’s renowned sculptures are also among the great works of art inspired by the legend.

The tale itself is quite well known – it tells the turbulent story of Cupid and Psyche, and the young girl’s ordeals at the hands of Venus before she was finally able to marry her beloved – and can be interpreted in many different ways: as a symbol of troubled love in antiquity, or as the triumph of marriage during the Renaissance. The Baroque era emphasized the dramatic and theatrical aspects of the legend, and between the 18th and 19th centuries, it became an emblem of wistful love, and was often associated to the themes of abandonment and sleep.

The exhibition will run until June 10, 2012 at Castel Sant'Angelo.

Don't miss this occasion!

Auguri Roma: Saints Peter and Paul!!

St. Peter's Basilica by Simona Albanese

The feast of St Peter and Paul, patrons of Rome, is one of the oldest solemntities of the Church introduced into the liturgy long before Christmas. It is celebrated in Rome every year. It seems that it was created to Christianize the pagan festival of Romulus and Remus, the mithological founders of Rome, and underline in this way the Apostoles' central role into the growing-up Church: Peter as first vicar of Christ and Paul, the apostle of the peoples, the Gospel spreader.

On this day the pope nominate new metropolitan archibishops celebrating a long solemn liturgy in St Peter's. 

In the evening this festivity is celebrated with the Girandola at Castel Sant' Angelo. The Girandola is not only a mix of fire-work, but also, as a traveler said in 1579 - it's like if all the stars are falling on the earth - an event that until 1861 has brought to Rome thousands of visitors. 

This Girandola started in 1481 to celebrate Sixtus IV papacy and then it was extended to all papal solemnities. It seems that among the 'masters' designing and projecting the fire works there was also Michelangelo.

A castle in Rome: Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel'Angelo has an amazing story behind it. It was originally built as the Mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian. The long and varied history of the building, with its thousands of metamorphosis seems to have unsettled the complicated maze of underground rooms, balconies, stairs and courtyards that constitute the current structure of the castle.

The original structure and subsequent changes within the building overlap and merge, creating a body faceted and complex, laden with symbolic and historical layers.  

this photo was taken when I was on holiday

on the bridge you can see the two angels commissioned to Gianlorenzo Bernini.

Not far from the Vatican, this amazing building should be one of the stop during your Italian journey!!!!