Fotoreproductie van fresco De bruiloft van Cupido en Psyche door Rafaël in het Farnesina te Rome c. 1870 - 1890

This photograph by Domenico Anderson captures Raphael's fresco, "The Wedding of Cupid and Psyche," painted in the Farnesina Villa in Rome. The scene overflows with symbols of love, fertility, and divine celebration. Look closely at the garland of flowers being offered above the wedding feast. This motif, linking figures above and below, is a descendant of ancient Roman triumphal arches, symbolizing victory and honor. We find echoes of this garland in Botticelli's "Primavera," where Flora scatters blossoms, representing renewal and the cyclical nature of life. The presence of Cupid, the god of love, is also significant. His image is a complex symbol, his arrows representing both desire and pain, deeply embedded in our collective psyche. This dual nature of love, the simultaneous joy and suffering, engages us on a subconscious level, reminding us of love's potent emotional force. These symbols, passed down through history, resurface and evolve, reminding us of the enduring power of images to connect us across time and cultures.