St Valentine, one of the most venerated Christian saints, is known as a patron saint of lovers. In ancient Rome the 14th February was celebrated as the day of Juno, the goddess who was worshipped as the protectress of women, in particular watching over marriage and childbirth. However, the Roman Emperor Claudius Gothicus thought that marriage interfered with the military policy of the Empire as it kept the soldiers close to their family and home. Claudius prohibited weddings but in spite of his order the bishop Valentine continued to marry young couples secretly. The legend says that he was executed for this reason on 14 February 270. In the Middle Ages on this day, according to the old custom, young people wrote the names of girls on sheets of paper and put them into vessels. Then each young man drew a piece with the name of a girl and became her Valentine, while the girl became his Valentine. In Hamlet, in the song of Ophelia, Shakespeare mentions this ritual. According to this tradition, on 14 February we congratulate our beloved and give them presents. Love is a driving force of life, which from time immemorial inspired poets, artists and sculptors to create great works of art.

Pendant: Cupid
C. 1580
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Psykter
Master Euphronius
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The Flying Cupid is Astounded with Psyche's Beauty
Maurice Denis
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