Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss by Antonio Canova is a masterpiece that embodies the transformative power of love and its effect on perception. In this sculpture, Cupid's kiss awakens Psyche from her slumber, symbolising the timeless nature of love that transcends mortal existence. The tender embrace between the two figures captures the essence of a moment frozen in time, yet also suggests an eternal connection that defies the constraints of time. Through this iconic artwork, Canova beautifully illustrates how love has the ability to alter our perception of time, making mere seconds feel like eternity in the presence of true affection.

The story of Cupid and Psyche is drawn from Apuleius’ Latin novel Asinus Aureus, often referred to as The Golden Ass. In this myth, Psyche is told by Venus that she cannot open a jar that contains a scrap of beauty from Proserpina, but the curiosity is too strong and she has to peer into the ‘Imprisoned Treasure of Divine Beauty.’ Upon her return from the Underworld, she decides to open that jar. As it turns out, Proserpina has actually filled it with the ’Sleep of the Innermost Darkness.’ As soon as it’s freed, it puts her in a deep sleep. She is rendered a ’corpse asleep’ and, the moment that Canova depicted, is the one where Cupid revives her with a kiss. We can still see some details drawn directly from this tale, such as the jar behind Psyche and the arrow that Cupid struck in an attempt to wake up his lover.

Even the smallest detail can exude incredibly strong emotions. As soon as she’s awakened, Psyche reaches for her lover, as he supports her head and breast with the utmost delicacy. In contrast to the realism of the scene, Canova manages to portray it with gentleness and grace. The smooth skin loosely draped by a thin sheet goes to show the difference between the soft texture of her upper body and the sinuous drapery. The curls and lines of her hair bounce on her shoulders and float in the air like feathers, and they merge with the soft wings that allowed Cupid to land beside his lover.

The fine details, the pure passion, and the story carved in the marble embody the transformative power of love and its influence on the perception of the world and even time itself. By awakening Psyche from her eternal slumber, it symbolises the timeless nature of love, which goes beyond the limits of life and transcends mortal existence. The tender embrace between the two figures captures the essence of a moment frozen in time, an endless instant in history.

Isn’t it what all lovers talk about, after all? How a single second turns into an eternity? How time stops when they kiss their partner? When they hold their hands? Of course, this sculpture tells the story of mythical lovers, but on a more general level, it recounts the story of every person in love in history. It symbolises an eternal connection that defies the constraints of time. Through this iconic artwork, Canova beautifully illustrates how love has the ability to alter our perception of time, making mere seconds feel like an eternity and reducing forever to a sole second, a single promise. That is exactly what I tried to put into words with this poem.

The hourglass

How is it
That your presence
Makes forever condense
To the blink of an eye?

How is it
That a mere glance
A fleeting moment
Expands into eternity?

A rivulet in the sand
A promise in marble
A symphony of glass
A swaying whisper

My hands
In yours
Forever
Now