A Neoclassical Gold Brooch Set With A Large Agate Cameo. Bust Of Psyche.

Dim. 4.9 x 4.6cm ; 26.6 g

This very beautiful gold brooch with an openwork border decorated with scrolling foliage is set with a large three-layer agate cameo depicting the bust of Psyche. A symbol of the soul and metamorphosis, the female figure is represented in left profile, the head inclined, the downcast eyes and her delicate mouth closed suggest introspection and melancholy. Her hair is arranged in a chignon held by a three-tiered headband and adorned with butterfly wings (finely executed in the deepest stratum of the intense brown-colored stone). She is dressed in an antique-style robe, and on her shoulder rests a butterfly, symbol of the soul, also carved in the most intense layer of the stone. Psyche, whose name derives from the Greek word for "soul" or "breath of life," represents one of the most profound and enduring symbols in classical mythology. Originally featured in Apuleius's "Metamorphoses" (The Golden Ass, 2nd century CE), her story tells of a mortal woman whose extraordinary beauty rivaled that of Venus herself, leading to both divine jealousy and ultimate transformation. Psyche embodies the human soul's journey toward enlightenment and divine love. Her mythological trials represent the soul's purification process, moving from earthly concerns to spiritual transcendence. Like many mythological subjects from Antiquity, the figure of Psyche appears in the art of engraving and jewelry across successive periods. However, the symbolism of this feminine figure found particular prominence in Neoclassical glyptics, highlighting the values of purity, beauty, nature, and melancholy that were highly prized during this era.