Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (French 1824-1887). A bronze group of Psyche awakening Cupid

Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (French 1824-1887). A bronze group of Psyche awakening Cupid, signed 'A. CARRIER-BELLEUSE', mounted on a verde antico marble base, 44.3cm high, 53.1cm wide.

Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (1824-1887) was a pupil of David d'Angers and was one of the founding members of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. He is probably most well known for the fact that Auguste Rodin worked as his assistant between 1864 and 1870. The story of Cupid and Psyche is originally from Metamorphoses and concerns itself with the obstacles of love between Psyche (Soul) and Cupid or Amor (Desire/Love) and their eventual sacred marriage. The bronze depicts the moment when Psyche (who was told by her sisters that Cupid was a vile winged serpent) uses a lamp to see Cupid and kill him, but when the light reveals such a beautiful creature she startles and subsequently wounds herself on one of Cupid's arrows. Struck with a feverish passion she spills hot oil from the lamp and wakes him.