Composition

An allegory from Apuleius' Golden Ass describes how Cupid fell in love with the princess Psyche, and visited her every night. He remained invisible and forbade her to try and see him but one night she took a lamp and looked on him asleep. Several drawings showing a 'Mother and child' could be associated with this story, including Venus and Cupid [M.1296] and Mother and child [M.1294].