Psyche was the Greek goddess symbolising the soul. Psyche and her bridegroom Eros could only come together in the dark. When Psyche insisted on seeing Eros by the light of her lamp, he had to leave her forever. As an allegory, the passion of the soul might banish sexual passion. Psyche was incarnate in a butterfly, because the early Greeks believed that souls could occupy insects while passing from one life to the next. The photograph is an example of typically Victorian popular imagery in its theme of innocence associated with childhood, conveyed through classical mythology.

Photograph produced by Kerry and Company, Sydney, New South Wales Australia.

Framed hand coloured photograph, 'Psyche', albumen / ink / paper / wood / glass, Kerry and Company, Sydney, New South Wales, 1860-1885

A black and white photograph that has been hand coloured. The photograph is in portrait format and shows the profile of a semi-naked woman (Psyche) seated on a rock, holding a butterfly, with a piece of fabric draped over her lap. A [photographic montage] has created wings on her back.The photograph has been mounted on card and framed behind glass within a gilded wooden frame,

Made: Kerry and Co; Sydney; 1860 - 1885

Bottom left in white text 'PSYCHE / 1860'. Impressed text in bottom left of image 'KERRY & CO PHOTO / [308] GEO ST SYDNEY / COPYRIGHT'.

99/119/2-4

1860 - 1885

380 mm

325 mm