Mercury and the Psyche

This bronze group represents the legend of Mercury and Psyche and is made by the workshop of Adriaen de Vries (b. 1560; d. 1627).

De Vries was a Dutch sculptor and draughtsman, active in Italy and Central Europe. He is associated with the court of Rudolf II in Prague, to which he brought the Mannerist court style of Giambologna of Florence. He also collaborated with Giambologna in Florence. His first own work is an over life-size group of Mercury and the Psyche (now Louvre) for Rudolf II.

The legend of the beautiful Psyche is written by Lucius Apuleius in the Metamorphoses, or Golden Ass. In the tale Mercury (a messenger of the gods) is sent by Jupiter to bring her back up to heaven to reunite her with her lover Cupid.