L'Adoration des mages

Cupid, shown with dark wings and a bow, leans over the reclining figure of Psyche, who lies in a swoon amidst scattered roses. In the upper left corner, a circular vignette shows Psyche standing before the goddess Venus, representing the trials she endured. The composition uses long, graceful lines and a muted palette to create a dreamlike, melancholic atmosphere characteristic of the Pre-Raphaelite circle.

The myth of Cupid and Psyche was a central allegory for Renaissance Neoplatonists like Marsilio Ficino, representing the soul's (Psyche) journey through earthly suffering and its eventual union with Divine Love (Cupid). This specific scene illustrates the 'death' or sleep of the soul before its final awakening and ascent to the celestial realm.