Panel 6. Psyche's Kin Bid Her Farewell on a Mountain Top - Maurice Denis

A decorative Symbolist work by Maurice Denis, depicting a scene from the myth of Psyche with a focus on flat planes of colour and rhythmic composition.

This work is part of a series commissioned by Ivan Morozov for his Moscow mansion, depicting the myth of Psyche. Maurice Denis, a member of the Nabis group, applied his theory that a painting is essentially a flat surface covered with colours assembled in a certain order. The composition avoids traditional perspective, favouring a decorative arrangement that emphasises the two-dimensional quality of the canvas.

The scene shows Psyche's family bidding her farewell on a mountain top, a moment of departure within the larger narrative. Denis employs a palette of soft, warm tones, with ochre, pink, and muted violet dominating the mountainous backdrop. The figures are rendered with clear outlines and simplified forms, characteristic of his mature style. A small, winged figure appears in the upper left corner, adding a mythological element to the scene. The treatment of the figures, particularly their poses and the drapery, reflects an interest in classical themes filtered through a modern, decorative lens.

Denis was known for his religious and mythological subjects, often imbuing them with a sense of quiet contemplation. In this panel, the emotional weight of the farewell is tempered by the stylised, almost rhythmic placement of the figures. The background mountains are reduced to planes of colour, creating a sense of distance without relying on atmospheric depth. This approach allows the viewer to focus on the interplay of shapes and the overall harmony of the composition. The work demonstrates the artist's ability to balance narrative content with formal experimentation, a hallmark of his contribution to early twentieth-century French art. The clear, deliberate application of paint and the focus on decorative unity remain central to the visual experience of this piece.