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Cupid and Psyche: C.996-1928

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Current Location: In storage

Titles

Cupid and Psyche

Maker(s)

Factory: Wood, Enoch (Possibly)
Factory: Wood & Caldwell (Possibly)

Entities

Categories

Description

White earthenware with slightly blue-tinted lead-glaze

White earthenware, moulded, and coated with slightly blue-tinted lead-glaze (pearlware). Fgures of Cupid and Psyche embracing standing beside each other on a shallow square base

Notes

History note: Sotheby's, London, 9 March 1909, lot 16; bought by Mr S. Fenton for £3.5s.0d (+ 10% commission) for Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Height: 46.5 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928-12-07) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

19th Century, Early
George III
Production date: circa AD 1800

Note

This model was derived from the marble winged Cupid and Psyche, which had been found near S. Stefano Rotondo in Rome in 1666, and was taken to the Uffizi in Florence. The high status of this marble was demonstrated by its inclusion in Zoffany's painting of the 'Tribuna of the Uffizi' begun in 1772. The group was also produced in porcelain by the Ginori factory at Doccia. The popularity of reproductions of the group can be gauged by a reversed model, shown standing on top of a drop front secretaire in a Directoire period gouache by J.BN. Mallet, entitled 'La visite aux jeunes mariés', in the Musée Cognacq-Jay, Paris. The winged Cupid and Psyche became less admired after the finding of a marble representing the embracing couple without wings which was found in 1749 and placed in the Capitoline Museum in Rome.

School or Style

Neoclassical

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Base Width 19.5 cm

Materials used in production

blue-tinted transparent Lead-glaze
white Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Moulding : White earthenware, moulded in parts, assembled, and coated with clear blue-tinted lead-glaze
Lead-glazing

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.996-1928
Primary reference Number: 93840
Old object number: 3005

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 25 March 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Cupid and Psyche" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/93840 Accessed: 2025-12-07 04:46:12

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/93840 |title=Cupid and Psyche |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-07 04:46:12|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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