DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1397#0134
PLATE 37.
PSYCHE, BY P. TENERANI.
nnHB well-known Italian sculptor Tenerani was represented in the Exhibition by this one subject
only, "Psyche," the property of the Hon. F. Calthorpe.—a life-size figure, characterized by the
peculiar excellence of the artist, refinement of taste and execution.
With drooping wings, Psyche sinks swooning on the ground, holding in one hand the top of the
vase, from which, with her dying breath, escapes the fire of life and light. The moment chosen by
the artist is when Psyche discovers her lover to be Gupid, thus put in rhyme by Mrs. Tighe.
" Between amazement, fear, and ecstasy,
She hangs enamour'd o'er the Deity,
Till from her trembling hand, extinguished falls
The fatal lamp — he starts — and suddenly
Tremendous thunders echo through the halls.
Dread horror seizes on her sinking heart,
A mortal chilmess shudders through her breast;
Her soul sinks fainting from Death's icy dart,
The groan scarce uttered dies but half-express'd,
And down she sinks in deadly swoon oppress'd."
For the following notice of the sculptor's life and works we are principally indebted to the
English Cyclopaedia:—
The Cavaliere Pietro Tenerani was born at Carrara, towards the close of the last century. Ho
began his studies under Canova at Rome, but owes more, perhaps, to the instruction and example of
Thorwaldsen, in whose atelier he worked for some time, and upon whose departure he succeeded to
the highest place among the sculptors of Rome.
His first work was a marble statue of Psyche, executed in 1819, and now in the Lenzoni
(Medici) Palace at Florence. Since then a vast number of Venuses, Cupids, Psyches, and other
deities and personages from Greek and Roman mythology, have proceeded from his chisel; and they
have always been admired for their grace and beauty. Of many of these he has been required to
produce more than one repetition. He has also executed numerous religious works: such are his
" Christ on the Cross; " his large relievo of the " Descent from the Cross," in the Torlonia Chapel;
his " Martyrdom of Budorus," &c.
His monumental statues also are numerous, and several are of colossal size : they are to be found
in the cities of the New World, as well as in many European capitals. Among them are the statues
of Leuchtenberg and Von Orloff at St. Petersburg; the bronze colossal statue of Ferdinand II. of
Naples, at Messina, cast at Munich in 1845; of Ferdinand III., at Pisa; of Bolivar for Columbia;
and of Count Rossi, the statesman, who was assassinated at Rome in 1848. Other celebrated statues
by him are those of St. John the Evangelist, in the Church of San Francesco di Paolo, at Naples;
of St. Liguori, in the Vatican; St. Paul; St. Benedict, &c.; and several monuments; amongst
which may be particularly mentioned that of Giulio Bianchi, in the Sacristy of Siena Cathedral.
Tenerani has received commissions from the princes and nobility of almost every country in
Europe: many of his works are in the palaces and mansions of this country, including his " Flora,"
executed for Her Majesty, and " Cupid extracting a Thorn from the Foot of Venus," in the possession
of the Duke of Devonshire, at Chatsworth, and of which the Emperor of Russia has a replica.
Tenerani is Professor of Sculpture in the Academy of St. Luke, Rome; a member of the French
Institute, and of the Academies of Berlin and Munich; in 1842 he was made a Knight of the
Order of St. Michael, by King Ludwig of Bavaria. His son Giambattista Tenerani is also a sculptor
of merit. Tenerani may be classed as the head of the classic and sentimental school in Italy, where
his works are still regarded as the ne plus ultra of the Sculptor's art, though they will not bear
comparison with the great productions of the Cisalpine artists, either for originality, vigour, or
sculpturesque merit.
PSYCHE, BY P. TENERANI.
nnHB well-known Italian sculptor Tenerani was represented in the Exhibition by this one subject
only, "Psyche," the property of the Hon. F. Calthorpe.—a life-size figure, characterized by the
peculiar excellence of the artist, refinement of taste and execution.
With drooping wings, Psyche sinks swooning on the ground, holding in one hand the top of the
vase, from which, with her dying breath, escapes the fire of life and light. The moment chosen by
the artist is when Psyche discovers her lover to be Gupid, thus put in rhyme by Mrs. Tighe.
" Between amazement, fear, and ecstasy,
She hangs enamour'd o'er the Deity,
Till from her trembling hand, extinguished falls
The fatal lamp — he starts — and suddenly
Tremendous thunders echo through the halls.
Dread horror seizes on her sinking heart,
A mortal chilmess shudders through her breast;
Her soul sinks fainting from Death's icy dart,
The groan scarce uttered dies but half-express'd,
And down she sinks in deadly swoon oppress'd."
For the following notice of the sculptor's life and works we are principally indebted to the
English Cyclopaedia:—
The Cavaliere Pietro Tenerani was born at Carrara, towards the close of the last century. Ho
began his studies under Canova at Rome, but owes more, perhaps, to the instruction and example of
Thorwaldsen, in whose atelier he worked for some time, and upon whose departure he succeeded to
the highest place among the sculptors of Rome.
His first work was a marble statue of Psyche, executed in 1819, and now in the Lenzoni
(Medici) Palace at Florence. Since then a vast number of Venuses, Cupids, Psyches, and other
deities and personages from Greek and Roman mythology, have proceeded from his chisel; and they
have always been admired for their grace and beauty. Of many of these he has been required to
produce more than one repetition. He has also executed numerous religious works: such are his
" Christ on the Cross; " his large relievo of the " Descent from the Cross," in the Torlonia Chapel;
his " Martyrdom of Budorus," &c.
His monumental statues also are numerous, and several are of colossal size : they are to be found
in the cities of the New World, as well as in many European capitals. Among them are the statues
of Leuchtenberg and Von Orloff at St. Petersburg; the bronze colossal statue of Ferdinand II. of
Naples, at Messina, cast at Munich in 1845; of Ferdinand III., at Pisa; of Bolivar for Columbia;
and of Count Rossi, the statesman, who was assassinated at Rome in 1848. Other celebrated statues
by him are those of St. John the Evangelist, in the Church of San Francesco di Paolo, at Naples;
of St. Liguori, in the Vatican; St. Paul; St. Benedict, &c.; and several monuments; amongst
which may be particularly mentioned that of Giulio Bianchi, in the Sacristy of Siena Cathedral.
Tenerani has received commissions from the princes and nobility of almost every country in
Europe: many of his works are in the palaces and mansions of this country, including his " Flora,"
executed for Her Majesty, and " Cupid extracting a Thorn from the Foot of Venus," in the possession
of the Duke of Devonshire, at Chatsworth, and of which the Emperor of Russia has a replica.
Tenerani is Professor of Sculpture in the Academy of St. Luke, Rome; a member of the French
Institute, and of the Academies of Berlin and Munich; in 1842 he was made a Knight of the
Order of St. Michael, by King Ludwig of Bavaria. His son Giambattista Tenerani is also a sculptor
of merit. Tenerani may be classed as the head of the classic and sentimental school in Italy, where
his works are still regarded as the ne plus ultra of the Sculptor's art, though they will not bear
comparison with the great productions of the Cisalpine artists, either for originality, vigour, or
sculpturesque merit.