# The Story of Psyche: 4. The Vengeance of Venus [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [DENIS, Maurice]() - Date: 1851-1900 - Technique: Oil on canvas, 395 x 272 cm ## Commentary The Story of Psyche: 4. The Vengeance of Venus 1908 Oil on canvas, 395 x 272 cm The Hermitage, St. Petersburg The monumental canvases depicting episodes in the adventures of Eros, the god of love, and his beloved, the mortal maiden Psyche, were created for the music room of Ivan Morozov's mansion in Moscow. They are exhibited now in the reconstructed music room in The Hermitage, St. Petersburg. In panel 4 of the series, Venus gives Psyche four tasks to accomplish. For the first three tasks, Psyche receives the help she needs and is able to overcome the evil vengeance of Venus. Venus's next task requires Psyche to go into Hell to ask Persephone, wife of Hades, for a box of magic makeup. Psyche overcomes her fears and retrieves the box. Though she was warned to not look inside the box under any circumstances she was unable to restrain herself from peeking inside. To her surprise, there was nothing inside but darkness, which puts her into a deep sleep. Denis paints Psyche and Eros in the shadows with Venus standing triumphant in the light. ## Related artworks - [Cupola decoration in the Théatre des Champs Élysées \(model\)]() - [Cupola decoration in the Théatre des Champs Élysées \(model\)]() - [Cycle of The Legend of St Hubert]() - [Homage to Cézanne]() - [Interior view]() - [Interior view]() - [Nude with Bouquet of Violets]() - [Portrait of Yvonne Lerolle in three views]() - [Presentation in the Temple in Florence - Evening at Fiesole]() - [Presentation in the Temple in Florence - Morning at Fiesole]() - [Presentation in the Temple in Florence - The Presentation]() - [Room with the Cycle of The Legend of St Hubert]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()