Venus Receiving Water From the River Styx

The ancient story of Psyche has fascinated artists and poets since the Renaissance, and met a renewed interest between the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Here exhibited are four sketches executed by Maldarelli for the decorations he painted on the ceilings of the Appartamento delle Feste in the Royal Palace of Naples. Maldarelli paints with an academic style influenced by frescoes found at Pompei. The artist depicts four well-known episodes from the Fable of Psyche. In the first, Psyche overcomes the third trial to which Venus subjected her, handing over to the goddess a vessel containing cold waters from the river Styx. In the second sketch Psyche, after having conquered the love of Eros, is led by Mercury to Mt. Olympus. In the third sketch, Psyche recieves the ambrosia that would have made her immortal. In the final sketch, the artist celebrates the wedding of Psyche and Eros in the presence of the gods.