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Psyche at Nature's Mirror, 19th century painting by German artist Frederick Paul Thumann (1834-1908). . The painting was exhibited at The World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 (Chicago World's Fair). The word psyche in Greek means both butterfly and soul. In Greek Mythology, Psyche was a maiden of rare beauty who was envied by Venus and loved by Eros (Cupid). She personified the soul and was made immortal by Zeus. |
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Psyche kneeling at the water's edge first appeared on White Rock labels in 1894. | ||||
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Psyche on a Rock with Butterfly, 5.5"h., self contained flower frog with 11 holes. Impressed on the bottom "5650." The four digit impress is typical of German made items. On a higher level, this piece shows Psyche contemplating the immortality of the soul. | ||||
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| "The fable of Cupid and Psyche is usually considered allegorical. The Greek name for a butterfly is Psyche, and the same word means the soul. There is no illustration of the immortality of the soul so striking and beautiful as the butterfly, bursting on brilliant wings from the tomb in which it has lain, after a dull, grovelling, caterpillar existence, to flutter in the blaze of day and feed on the most fragrant and delicate productions of the spring. Psyche, then, is the human soul, which is purified by sufferings and misfortunes, and is thus prepared for the enjoyment of true and pure happiness." Bullfinch's Mythology | |||||
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| Uploaded April 8, 2001 © Copyright 2001-2003, Bonnie Bull | |||||