Cupid and Psyche (also known as Psyche Receiving Cupid’s First Kiss)

The love affair between Cupid and Psyche is one of the best known greek-classical myths, recounted in the Latin novel The Golden Ass by Apuleius. The painting represents Cupid (Eros) kissing a beautiful girl named Psyche. Their story begins with Psyche, a girl so surpassingly beautiful that it is believed that her beauty had offended/angered even Gods. She is believed to be unmarriageable due to her striking beauty that no mortal man would ever take her. Her father ties her to the highest cliff of a mountain to make her find a husband, where Cupid meets her for the first time. Cupid instantly falls in love with her but also takes a promise that she will never attempt to see his face. Psyche is madly in love with him and he only comes to visit her in the darkness of nights. Unfortunately, Psyche's jealous sisters intimidate her and she lights a lamp to see Cupid's face one night, which destroys their relationship. Cupid's character in painting is depicted with wings to remind that he is the ultimate, immortal God of Desires. Even after such beautiful love relationship with God himself, everything was destroyed with one broken promise. The artwork continues to serve a lesson for generations that Without Faith, there can be No Love.