Cupid and Psyche

Reynolds's Cupid and Psyche from 1789, in the Courtauld Gallery, is one of his late mythological paintings that combine the sensuous appeal of the classical nude with the warmth of his portrait manner. The subject of Cupid discovering the sleeping Psyche was one of the most frequently treated mythological themes in European art, and Reynolds's version reflects his lifelong engagement with classical subjects as vehicles for artistic expression. The painting was created in his final years, when failing eyesight was curtailing his activity.

Reynolds renders the mythological scene with characteristic warmth, the sleeping Psyche's flesh tones glowing against the dark background. The late technique, somewhat broader than his earlier work, maintains the sensuous appeal appropriate to the subject while showing the effects of his declining vision.