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About This Work
Venus reclines on a cloud, gesturing toward the earth as she speaks to her son Cupid, who holds a bow. To the sides, winged putti fly through the air, including one clutching the eagle and lightning bolts of Jupiter. The scene is framed by a heavy, ornate garland of various fruits and flowers, characteristic of the Loggia di Psiche.
The myth of Cupid and Psyche, sourced from Apuleius, was a central allegory in Renaissance Neoplatonism representing the human soul's (Psyche) descent into the material world and its eventual spiritual ascent through divine Love (Cupid). This narrative served as a key reference for thinkers like Marsilio Ficino who viewed the trials of Psyche as an initiatory journey toward divine union.