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ART PIECE AND STATUE OF THE MONTH 

ABOUT THE STATUE

(May)

Artist: Giovanni Battista Comolli (1775–1831)
Year: early 19th century
 Name: (dying) "Cleopatra"
Place: Gipsoteca Bartolini, Galleria dell'Accademia, Florence


 "Though cast in plaster, the work radiates a quiet majesty—its elegance and symbolic weight undiminished by its medium.

Reclining in a graceful, almost dreamlike pose, Cleopatra is captured at the edge of myth and history, her expression serene, her body draped in flowing fabric that seems to flutter with an invisible breeze. In one hand she lifts a veil, while the other rests on a globe-like object—possibly a subtle nod to her rule and worldly influence. The sculpture reflects the Neoclassical obsession with antiquity, idealized beauty, and the emotional restraint that characterized the early 19th century.

But more than just a portrait of a queen, this Cleopatra is a study in duality: strength and vulnerability, seduction and sorrow, death and immortality. Her calm demeanor alludes to her famed suicide, often romanticized in European art and literature as the ultimate act of defiance and dignity. Comolli, like many of his contemporaries, was captivated by the tragic allure of the ancient world—and in this work, Cleopatra becomes not just a historical figure, but a timeless symbol of power lost and legend gained.

Visiting this sculpture is like stepping into a quiet conversation between history and imagination. In her marble-stillness, Cleopatra whispers across centuries, inviting us to reflect on beauty, mortality, and the stories we choose to remember."

Source: ChatGPT

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ABOUT THE STATUE

(April)

Antonio Canova (1757-1822) Psyche Revived By Cupid's Kiss, Musée du Louvre

The reclining female figure 

The passage you describe from Apuleius illustrates a crucial moment in the story of Psyche. Psyche, warned by Venus, disobeys the command not to open the jar containing divine beauty. Instead of finding beauty, she releases the "Sleep of Innermost Darkness," which plunges her into unconsciousness. This moment is captured by Canova in his sculpture, depicting Psyche as a "corpse asleep," revived by Cupid. The artwork features symbolic details, such as the jar lying beside her and Cupid's arrow, which alludes to the act of awakening Psyche. These elements reflect Psyche's curiosity and the consequences of her disobedience, emphasizing themes of desire and transformation.

"It is regarded as a masterpiece of Neoclassical sculpture, but shows the mythological lovers at a moment of great emotion, characteristic of the emerging movement of Romanticism. It represents the god Cupid in the height of love and tenderness, immediately after awakening the lifeless Psyche with a kiss."

 

(Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psyche_Revived_by_Cupid%27s_Kiss, searched on 10/15/2024.)

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Pierre.Auguste Cot, Springtime (1873). Collectionk of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
 

ABOUT THE PAINTING

(March)

Cot's artwork portrays a young couple entwined in an embrace on a swing, set against a lush forest or garden backdrop. Dressed in classical attire, they appear captivated by one another, with one source describing them as "intoxicated by first love."

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