Patrons and collectors of art
WILLIAM THEED (1804-91)
Psyche Lamenting the Loss of Cupid
1847Marble | 152.0 cm (whole object) | RCIN 2044
Wiliam Theed was the son of William Theed I and his French wife, François Rougeot. He was born at Trentham in Staffordshire. Having trained initially with E. H. Baily he entered the Royal Academy Schools where he won a silver medal in 1822. Theed travelled to Rome in 1826 and settled there with the intention of completing his training as a sculptor. He there attended Thorvaldsen's classes and became friendly with the British expatriates John Gibson and R. J. Wyatt.
This work is based on Thorvaldsen's Psyche with the Jar of Beauty, first modelled in 1806 and which is known in several marble version, of which the earliest belonged to Thomas Hope. Theed adapted the pose to portray an earlier moment in the tale related by Apuleius, depicting one of the labours that Venus directed Psyche to undertake in order to rediscover Cupid; she is depicted holding the vessel containing a portion of Proserpine's beauty which Venus has sent her to Hades to collect. A description of this work was published in 1841 by Hawks le Grice, who must have seen the studio model.
The Victorians were preoccupied with Cupid and Psyche as symbols of sacred and profane love. This statue, based on the work of Theed's master, Thorvaldsen, was purchased for Osborne with the companion figure of Narcissus.
Text adapted from Victoria & Albert: Art & Love (2010) and Sculpture in the Collection of His Majesty The King (2025).
This work is based on Thorvaldsen's Psyche with the Jar of Beauty, first modelled in 1806 and which is known in several marble version, of which the earliest belonged to Thomas Hope. Theed adapted the pose to portray an earlier moment in the tale related by Apuleius, depicting one of the labours that Venus directed Psyche to undertake in order to rediscover Cupid; she is depicted holding the vessel containing a portion of Proserpine's beauty which Venus has sent her to Hades to collect. A description of this work was published in 1841 by Hawks le Grice, who must have seen the studio model.
The Victorians were preoccupied with Cupid and Psyche as symbols of sacred and profane love. This statue, based on the work of Theed's master, Thorvaldsen, was purchased for Osborne with the companion figure of Narcissus.
Text adapted from Victoria & Albert: Art & Love (2010) and Sculpture in the Collection of His Majesty The King (2025).
