Ancient French Napoleon III sculpture in alabaster depicting Cupid and Psyche. 19th century period.

The work depicts, with a subtle and refined eroticism, Cupid and Psyche in the moment preceding the kiss, heralded by the attitude of the bodies and the gazes that contemplate each other with a sweetness of equal intensity: their lips, although extremely close, are not yet united.

Love places his right leg on the ground while with the push of his left leg he bends forward, arching his torso and at the same time flexing his head so as to bring it closer to the face of his beloved, which he delicately supports with his left hand.

Psyche, on the other hand, is semi-reclining, turns her face upwards and almost timidly raises her arms to welcome Cupid's kiss, touching her fingers with his hair, who has his wings spread, as if he had just come to help her. .

Their adolescent bodies, characterized by an exquisitely neoclassical anatomical perfection, are completely naked, except for a drape that barely veils Psyche's intimacies.

Provenance: 19th century France.

Conditions: Excellent state of conservation