French, Paris, early 18th century

numbered: 300919-3941 three times

private collection, France

Overall the condition of the bronze is good with minor dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. The bronze is cast in sections, and original stable joints are slightly visible, including at Psyche's proper right upper arm and her proper right thigh. There is a stable hairline fissure in the bronze running horizontally across Psyche's abdomen, as the result of a casting flaw. There are a few small lacunae, including to the rock work on the base and very minor ones to Psyche's proper left arm, where the drapery joins her proper left hip, and to Cupid's hair on his proper right side. A few original casting plugs are slightly visible, including to Psyche's proper right ankle and her proper left upper arm. There is some rubbing to the lacquer patina at the high points, including the faces, fingers and toes, the hair, and the edges of the rock work base. There are a few minor nicks and scratches, including to Psyche's proper left elbow and back.
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Psyche is seen here attempting to discover the identity of her lover as he sleeps. She discovers Cupid but the oil dripping from her lamp wakes him and causes the little God to take flight, leaving a lonely Psyche suffering a long torment before their ultimate reconciliation. Originally told by the 2^nd century Roman writer Apuleius, the story inspired many artists around 1700.

Several examples of the present model exist, sometimes paired with a bronze representing Venus disarming Cupid. Until recently the models were attributed to Corneille van Clève through comparisons with his documented work. The most handsome pairs are in the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen in Dresden and in the Herzog Anton Ulrich-Museum in Braunschweig (inv. nos. H⁴ 153/7 and Bro 166). The Wallace Collection in London owns a bronze of Psyche discovering Cupid which is of high quality and like the present, not part of a pair (inv. no. S186). Both bronzes have a well-preserved surface and finely chased details. Some casts, including the Wallace collection example but not the Dresden cast, show Psyche with an oil lamp.

The Psyche discovering Cupid in Dresden is the earliest documented version of the model, having entered the collection of Augustus the Strong of Saxony in 1723. The attribution to Corneille van Clève was first proposed in 1968. In recent years scholars have ascribed the sculptures to a disciple in his circle. The inspiration clearly derives from Van Clève and his bronze groups of mythological subjects with elegantly poised figures, such as Diane and Endymion (Staatliche Kunstsammlungen, Dresden inv. no. IX.24).

Van Clève descends from a family of goldsmiths of Flemish origin. Born and active in Paris, his many royal commissions include work at Versailles, The Invalides and the Notre-Dame. In the 1670s he had a sojourn in Rome and Venice. After his return to the French capital, he went on to lead a very successful official career and held prestigious posts at the Académie.

RELATED LITERATURE
French paintings and sculptures of the 18^th century: Winter exhibition, exh. cat. Heim Gallery, London, 1968; R. Wenley, French bronzes in the Wallace Collection, London, 2002, pp. 74-75; Cast in bronze. French sculpture from Renaissance to Revolution, exh. cat, Paris, 2009, pp. 412-415, no. 114