19th-Century Carrara Marble Sculpture of Psyche and Cupid, Signed Pugi

A masterful 19th-century Italian sculpture in fine white Carrara marble, representing the mythological episode of Psyche about to cut a lock of Cupid’s hair.

The composition is imbued with striking dynamism: the two figures are intimately intertwined, their postures creating a delicate tension. Psyche’s legs gracefully immobilize Cupid’s wings, while her poised gesture and serene expression contrast with Cupid’s youthful, tender face. The subtle contrapposto of both figures brings rhythm and balance, enhancing the impression of movement and emotional intensity.

Particularly remarkable is the rendering of the drapery, its fluid folds capturing the sensation of motion and air. The artist succeeds in combining harmony and tension, stillness and vitality, elevating the mythological subject to a scene of palpable intimacy.

The natural translucence of Carrara marble heightens the lifelike presence of the work, revealing both technical virtuosity and poetic sensibility.

Signed Pugi No. 11 on the base.
In very good condition, with a soft patina consistent with age.

A timeless and romantic piece, at once dramatic and refined, ideal for a distinguished interior or a collection of fine neoclassical sculpture.

Guglielmo Pugi (1850-1915) lived in Florence, where he ran a sculpture workshop with his two sons. Their workshop, “Guglielmo Pugi e Figli”, was mainly devoted to exports, particularly to the United States. Guglielmo Pugi’s work, emblematic of the Art Nouveau style, is characterized by direct carving in alabaster and Carrara marble (often white or veined).

Some of his sculptures are now housed in Volterra’s Historical Alabaster Museum. Many of his works were shown at major international exhibitions, such as the 1901 Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo and the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.

Dimensions without base
Height : 61 cm
Width : 25 cm
Depth : 22 cm