This resource forms Part One of “Exploring Watercolour at the Fitzwilliam Museum Cambridge with AccessArt“

The resource describes and demonstrates individual watercolour techniques, and then shows examples of these techniques in paintings from the Fitzwilliam Collection. The images can be printed and used in the classroom, making this resource a useful tool for teachers to use either in their own professional development, or in a classroom context.

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The resource describes and demonstrates individual watercolour techniques, and then shows examples of these techniques in paintings from the Fitzwilliam Collection.

part 2: Exploration of Watercolour in the studio

After studying paintings from the collection at first hand and identifying how various marks within the paintings may have been made, teachers undertake their own exploration of working with watercolour.

<< Back To: Inspire: Fitzwilliam Museum

An exploration of the painting ‘The Story of Cupid and Psyche’ by Jacapo del Sellaio, written by Kate Noble.

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This is one in a series of resources created in collaboration with Kate Noble from the Fitzwilliam Museum. The ‘Inspire 2020’ project aims to encourage teachers to use collections in local galleries and museums as a source for exploration in art lessons.

The Story of Cupid and Psyche by Jacopo del Sellaio (1442 – 1493)  

The Story of Cupid and Psyche. Sellaio, Jacopo del (Italian, 1441/2-1493). Egg tempera with gold on panel, height 59cm, width 178.8cm. Florentine School. One of a pair of cassone panels.

The painting above tells the first half of the ancient Greek story of a human princess, Psyche, who marries the god of love, Cupid. It was painted for a very grand bedroom in fifteenth-century Florence, which doubled as an entertaining space for the wife’s friends. The bedchamber was furnished at the time of a wedding, with a bed and chests but also painted stories that celebrated the love of a newly married couple. This story highlights the loyalty of the bride to the groom, as was expected in the fifteenth century. 

The Story of Cupid and Psyche 

The story is read from left to right like a cartoon strip. 

‘Young Psyche with her courtiers when Cupid first sets eyes on her – a close up of Del Sellaio’s Cupid and Psyche painted in 1473 in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.’

Cupid is sent to cast a spell on Psyche by his mother Venus, who is jealous of Psyche’s beauty.

‘Cupid sets eyes of Psyche and cannot follow through his mother, Venus’s, evil plan – close up of Cupid and Psyche by Del Sellaio 1473 at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge’

Cupid falls in love with Psyche and is unable to carry out Venus’ evil plan.

‘Psyche is blown off the hill by Zephyrus the wind – a detail in a painting by Del Sellaio of Cupid and Psyche painted in 1473’

Psyche is blown off the top of a mountain by the god Zephyr who carries her safely down to rest in a soft bower.

‘Psyche lands on a soft bower’ – a detail from Cupid and Psyche by Del Sellaio painted in 1473

When she awakes, she finds herself at a beautiful palace where she is welcomed by an invisible, but kind, master (Cupid, in hiding from his mother). He invites Psyche to live with him on the condition that she will never ask his true identity. They are happy for a while but then Psyche’s sisters persuade her to look at him whilst he sleeps. A drop of oil lands on his skin, he wakes up and is angered by Psyche’s lack of trust.   

Detail: Psyche lifting Cupid’s wing; The Story of Cupid and Psyche c.1473;  Sellaio, Jacopo del; painter; Italian artist, 1441/2-1493; Tempera and gold on a wooden panel

The story continues in a second panel (in a private collection). Cupid returns to his mother, Psyche searches for him and is captured and enslaved by Venus. Cupid pleads with Jupiter, king of the gods, to free Psyche. He agrees, and Cupid and Psyche are married.  

Questions to Ask Children 

Does this story remind you of any other fairy tales you know?