Merkurs og Psykes flugt 1782

"Merkurs og Psykes flugt" (Flight of Mercury and Psyche), painted by Erik Pauelsen in 1782, depicts the mythological tale of Cupid and Psyche's flight from the wrath of Venus. The painting, housed at SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, portrays the couple soaring through the heavens, emphasizing the ethereal nature of their escape. Pauelsen masterfully captures the dynamism of the scene, using soft brushstrokes to create a sense of movement and lightness. This neoclassical work exemplifies the romantic ideals of love and freedom, a theme prevalent in 18th-century Danish art.