Italian, 19th century

This finely carved nude is depicted with a dagger and oil lamp at her feet, identifying the figure as Psyche. According to legend, Psyche was a mortal so beautiful that the goddess Venus became jealous; and she instructed her son Cupid to make Psyche fall in love with a hideous monster, but instead Cupid himself fell in love with Psyche. He only visited her at night and ordered Psyche not to attempt to look at him. Convinced he was a monster, she wanted to kill him by approaching him when asleep with an oil lamp and dagger, only to realise he was the beautiful god Cupid. By looking at him, Cupid abandoned her, leaving her in distress.