One of the most beautiful of the many representations of this
fascinating story is Canova’s statue in the Louvre of Cupid awakening
Psyche. We cannot fail to have an exalted conception of true beauty
after gazing upon it. It has been said that no kiss in modern art is so
ideal as the one here enjoyed. The youthful figures show grace of form
combined with an exalted spirituality. Only a refined nature could have
conceived the subject so purely.
[Illustration]
Mercury.
“The Master Thief.”
“_By thy winged cap
And winged heels I know thee: thou art Hermes,
Captain of thieves! Hast thou again been stealing
heifers of Admetus in the sweet
Meadows of Asphodel?_”
--LONGFELLOW.