Filippo Pelagio Palagi had a self-described "mania for antique things" that affected all aspects of his life. His interest in archaeology began when he moved to Rome in 1806 and soon became a fundamental inspiration in his work. Palagi was interested in Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman antiquity, whose motifs he inventively and eclectically combined in his furniture and ornament designs.

The Nuptuals of Cupid and Psyche

Pelagio Palagi's fascination with the past is evident in this, one of his most impressive paintings: The Nuptuals of Cupid and Psyche (above). This Neoclassical masterpiece was created in 1808, and is now displayed in the Institute of Art in Detroit, Michigan. I have prints of this painting available.

Although Palagi protested that he was "not well-off, otherwise [he] would not merely praise [antiquities] but would dearly love to own them," he was a passionate collector and amassed one of the richest archaeological collections of the 1800s. Palagi owned a considerable collection of bronzes, marble sculptures, Etruscan vases, and gold, silver, and glass objects acquired during his years living in Rome, Milan, and Turin.