English: This painting is the fifth in a set of twelve in the Royal Collection depicting part of the story of Cupid and Psyche. The subject of this series comes from The Metamorphoses or Golden Ass by the second-century AD writer Apuleius: it is one of the stories that intersperse the main narrative of Lucius on his travels (Book IV, para. 28 - Book VI, para. 24). The tale of the many travails endured by ill-matched lovers (one mortal and one divine) before their final happy marriage. It was interpreted in the Renaissance as a Neoplatonic allegory of the progress of the soul (Psyche means ‘soul’ in Greek) towards salvation through Divine Love. The outcome of their union is Pleasure.

In this scene Psyche is bathing on the left, with the help of attendants, two invisible attendants bring her a table of food. Musicians play in the right foreground and upper right, while Cupid directs operations from the upper left. Cupid is shown as an unseen presence. The idea of a magical banquet is suggested by the table borne through the air by ethereal servants.

There is only preparatory drawing for Giordano’s series is for this scene, a chalk and wash sheet in the Library of the Royal Palace, Madrid.