Art Institute of Chicago

The People Rendering Divine Honors to Psyche

Master of the Die (Italian, active c. 1530-1560)

Date

1530/40

Medium

Engraving in warm brown ink on cream laid paper

Culture

Italy

Department

Prints and Drawings

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

This series by the Renaissance engraver known as the Master of the Die tells the story of the romance between Cupid, the ancient god of love, and his mortal beloved, Psyche. Cupid’s mother, Venus, resented Psyche’s rare beauty because she distracted the goddess’s followers. When Venus dispatches Cupid to exact her revenge, he falls in love with Psyche himself. Secretly meeting Psyche only at night, he attempts to keep his identity secret but is ultimately discovered. Psyche then embarks on a series of quests engineered by the still-vindictive Venus to atone for her curiosity.

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