CESARE LAPINI | PSYCHE ABANDONED

Exemplary of Lapini's oeuvre, the present Psyche reflects the sculptor's interest in allegorical figures. Considered one of the most celebrated Neoclassical models in Italy, the Abandoned Psyche has been copied and reinterpreted by numerous artists during the 19th century. The sculpture shows Psyche in a moment of true sorrow, where she is abandoned by Cupid for not honouring their sacred pact. Lapini remains truthful to the classic representation of the Abandoned Psyche, usually portrayed sitting on a rock with an empty gaze. However, the sculptor makes a small variation by bringing a hand to her cheek, enhancing Psyche’s feeling of loss.

RELATED LITERATURE

A. Panzetta, Nuovo dizionario degli scultori italiani, Turin, 2003, p. 513