Artwork
The Flight of Cupid
The Flight of Cupid is a print by Charles de Sousy Ricketts. It dates from 1901 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Charles S.
- Accession no.
- 1947.445
- Credit line
- Gift of Leonard C. Hanna Jr.
About this work
Overview
Charles S. Ricketts produced a black‑and‑white print titled The Flight of Cupid as an illustration for his private edition of Lucius Apuleius’s Roman treatise De Cupidinis et Psyches amoribus. The image captures the instant when the winged god of love prepares to depart from his mortal beloved, Psyche, emphasizing the narrative’s emotional climax.
Subject & Meaning
The composition isolates the pivotal moment of separation, portraying Cupid with outstretched wings as he turns away from Psyche. This visual focus underscores the tension between divine desire and human affection, reflecting the ancient story’s themes of love, loss, and the transformative power of longing.
Technique & Style
Ricketts employed a chiaroscuro approach, using stark contrasts of light and dark to model the figures and suggest depth. The print’s linear precision and decorative borders reveal his involvement in every design element, echoing the Arts and Crafts ethos of integrated craftsmanship.
History & Provenance
Created for the Vale Press, a publishing venture Ricketts founded to counteract the declining standards of mass‑produced books, the print exemplifies his holistic control over book production, from typeface to binding. The work remains associated with the limited, hand‑crafted editions that defined the press’s output.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles de Sousy Ricketts (2 October 1866 – 7 October 1931) was a British artist, illustrator, author and printer, known for his work as a book designer and typographer and for his costume and scenery designs for plays and operas.
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