TENERANI, Pietro
(b. 1789, Torano, Massa e Carrara, d. 1869, Roma)

Psyche Abandoned

1816-17
Marble
Galleria dell'Arte Moderna, Palazzo Pitti, Florence

The feeling of melancholic meditation on the loss of those dear to us was the source of inspiration of this work. Appreciated by Canova and Thorvaldsen for the smoothness of the marble and the delicate naturalness of the limbs, the Neo-classical sculpture met with such success that it was subsequently replicated in a number of other versions.

You can compare this statue with an earlier version by Augustin Pajou.