Statue of Cupid and Psyche

Cupid, the son of Venus, was the Roman god associated with love, desire, and sexuality. Here he embraces his consort, Psyche. This statue once decorated the villa of the emperor Hadrian near Tivoli, east of Rome, and was discovered by the Scottish antiquarian and art dealer Gavin Hamilton in 1769. The statue was extensively restored after its discovery. Hamilton sold it for £300 to the Marquess of Lansdowne for his collection in London. This statue was displayed in the sculpture gallery in Lansdowne House along with the Marcus Aurelius that is also now in SAMA’s collection.