CUPID AND PSYCHE – JOHAN TOBIAS SERGEL

A moment of love, separation and desperate devotion captured forever in marble.

Cupid and Psyche, created by the great Swedish sculptor Johan Tobias Sergel, is one of the most emotionally powerful interpretations of the ancient myth of Eros and Psyche. Rather than portraying the lovers in peaceful union, Sergel chose a moment of profound tension: Cupid prepares to leave while Psyche desperately clings to him, trying to prevent their separation.

The myth tells the story of Psyche, a mortal woman of extraordinary beauty, and Cupid, the god of love. Their forbidden relationship was governed by one condition: Psyche could never look upon her mysterious lover. When curiosity led her to discover his true identity, Cupid prepared to abandon her, beginning the trials and suffering that would ultimately lead to their reunion.

Sergel transformed this legendary story into a composition of extraordinary emotional intensity. Cupid’s wings suggest imminent departure, while Psyche’s body turns toward him in a desperate attempt to hold him back. The contrast between movement and resistance gives the sculpture its remarkable dramatic power.

The flowing anatomy, intertwined bodies and delicate balance of the composition reveal the ideals of Neoclassical sculpture, while the emotional tension anticipates the greater expressiveness that would later emerge in European art.

Our artistic reconstruction of Cupid and Psyche has been carefully developed to preserve the elegance, movement and emotional intensity of Sergel’s masterpiece. The relationship between the two figures, the delicate anatomy and the dramatic gesture of separation are reproduced with exceptional attention to detail.

Each sculpture is individually prepared and finished by hand in our workshop, creating a work with its own subtle character while preserving the appearance and artistic spirit of the original composition.

More than a decorative object, this sculpture is a timeless representation of love confronted by loss, doubt and separation — and of the extraordinary power of human devotion.

MATERIAL INFORMATION

This sculpture is created in solid high-density photoreactive resin, using materials selected for their exceptional precision, durability and ability to capture extremely fine sculptural detail.

Materials of this type are widely used for high-precision artistic reproductions, professional model-making, cinema, theatre, museums and cultural institutions, where surface definition and dimensional accuracy are essential.

We do not use plaster, mineral composites, stone powder or conventional plastic.

The sculpture is produced through a carefully developed process that combines digital reconstruction, high-precision replication and extensive manual finishing. After replication, every piece is individually cleaned, refined, polished and finished by hand in our workshop.

This process allows us to preserve subtle anatomical forms, textures and details that would be lost with lower-quality materials or conventional casting methods.

The result is a solid, durable and highly detailed hand-finished artwork, created for collectors who value sculptural accuracy and professional craftsmanship.

HAND-FINISHED ARTWORK

Every sculpture is individually finished by hand in our workshop.

The final surface is carefully refined through several stages of cleaning, polishing and manual finishing to achieve the appearance shown in the photographs.

This individual process gives each sculpture its own subtle character and ensures that every piece receives the same level of attention and craftsmanship.

MADE TO ORDER

Each sculpture is individually created and finished to order in our workshop.

Due to the complexity of the composition and the extensive manual finishing process, preparation time may vary depending on the selected size and current workload.

We carefully inspect every sculpture before shipment to ensure the highest possible standard of finish and detail.

PACKAGING AND SHIPPING

Due to the delicate nature of the composition, each sculpture is carefully protected using reinforced packaging designed specifically for its shape and size.

Particular attention is given to the wings and the most delicate areas of the sculpture to ensure maximum protection during international transport.

We ship worldwide from our workshop in Spain.

IMPORTANT NOTE

The photographs show real examples of finished sculptures created in our workshop and accurately represent the finish that the customer will receive.

However, because every sculpture is individually finished by hand, small variations in tone and subtle surface nuances may occur.

These variations are inherent to the artisanal finishing process and make each sculpture unique.