Psyche myth explored in Modena exhibition at BPER Banca Gallery

The exhibition 'Psiche allo specchio' at Galleria BPER Banca in Modena opens with a 1820 psyché mirror, reflecting the historical shift from small mirrors to full-length ones. A painting by Federico Zandomeneghi nearby shows a woman admiring herself in a yellow robe. The show then delves into the myth of Cupid and Psyche, featuring works from BPER Banca's collection, including Guido Reni's 'Sleeping Cupid' (c. 1600). Exceptional loans include a 1774 set of engravings after Raphael's 'Fable of Psyche' and a painting by François Pascal Simon Gérard, a second version of the Louvre masterpiece. Max Klinger's etchings illustrate the story with symbolism and decorative style. Contemporary works by Omar Galliani, Andrea Mastrovito, and Andrea Facco are also on view. Facco recreated a butterfly from Gérard's painting as a fake stamp that actually delivered a postcard to curator Daniela Ferrari, referencing the original meaning of 'psyché' as 'soul' or 'breath of life' symbolized by a butterfly.