"Cupid, draw back your bow..."

Raphael's version of Cupid

Happy Valentines Day everyone, and especially to John reading this at work.  Thank you for the roses yesterday and those very special surprises you left on the kitchen table this morning. I'm excited about the opera tickets! You always make me feel loved with your thoughtful gifts.  I'm afraid these days I show my love more with food, and along those lines tonight we're having your favorite veal Parmesan dinner.

And so...on to Cupid, the icon of love for 6,000 years. Eros (Cupid) and Psyche first appeared in Greek mythology. The simple version of the story goes like this: Cupid's mother (Venus) was jealous of princess Psyche and ordered Cupid to make her fall in love with the vilest thing in the world.  When Cupid was sneaking into her room to shoot Psyche with a golden arrow, he saw how beautiful she was and pricked himself with his own arrow instead, falling instantly in love with her.

After that, Cupid visited Psyche every night while she slept, his voyeurism becoming the spicy inspiration for countless works of art through the ages. 

Cupid and Psyche, by Burne-Jones

Cupid and Psyche, by Antonio Canova

Cupid at the Helm, artist unknown

Cupid, by Bouguereau

Cupids with Butterfly Wings, by Mantegna

Cupid, by Joshua Reynolds

Cupid and Psyche, by Gentileschi

Cupid and Psyche, by Warren Criswell

There's something for everyone when it comes to Cupid and Psyche art!

And this last painting will make John happy because it's by one of his favorite artists. Lucas Cranach's over-refined ladies give me the creeps with their tiny heads and long arms...the style is called Mannerism. There's a Cranach painting at Seattle Art Museum, and I like to say mean things while John admires it.

Cupid and Psyche, by Cranach

And so I'll end with that-- Happy Valentines Day, and special love to my followers. Wishing you the sweetest day possible!