Comparison 3: Canova and the Climax Kiss
[Click image to see a larger version.]
Antonio Canova
Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss (completed 1793)
Marble, H 1.55 m x L 1.68 m x D 1.01 m (5.08' x 5.51' x 3.31')
Located in the Louvre (Musee de Louvre), Paris, France
Crespi's painting was completed ~1708. At the other end of the century, we see the story of Cupid and Psyche alive and well in the (famous) above work by sculptor Canova.
As discussed in the original Crespi post, I believe Crespi's painting works well to highlight a certain sort of narrative moment — a 'Magical Midpoint Moment' where conflict comes to a head, the character(s) are forced to make a decision, and we find what the story is really 'all about'. In such a moment, there is complication, ambiguity, and a genuinely uncertain outcome.
Canova's work, while still narrative, is nothing like that. Instead we get an entirely different type of narrative moment: simple payoff. If you recall the end of the Psyche story, you may remember the bit where one of the impossible tasks Venus gave to Psyche almost kills Psyche (specifically, causes her to collapse into a sleep so deep she is effectively a corpse). Canova gives us the moment where Cupid, still entirely in love with her, flies down and revives her (which will immediately lead to the part where Psyche becomes immortal and they are both happily married). More than happy, this scene is straight-out triumphant; if Crespi's painting shows us the moment where everything goes wrong, Canova's statue is a warm, tender depiction of the moment when we know that everything will be alright. Still drama, yes, but not the drama of unanswered questions...rather, the drama of emotional answers.
Both narrative approaches are entirely valid, but it's worth thinking about the strengths and weaknesses that come with both, and which subjects each might be best suited for.
NOTE:
Highly recommend seeing pictures of Canova's sculpture from multiple angles, as it was designed to be walked around (see the handle at Psyche's foot, meant to help rotate the base). Wikimedia has a gallery here.
