Cupid and Psyche Together in the Nuptial Bed

"Cupid and Psyche Together in the Nuptial Bed," created between 1530 and 1540, is a highly detailed engraving by the Master of the Die (Italian, active c. 1530-1560). This print exemplifies the complex network of artistic transmission in the Renaissance, deriving its composition from a work by Michiel Coxcie I, who, in turn, was interpreting compositional motifs previously developed by the High Renaissance master Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael.

The piece is rendered using the burin technique on cream laid paper, with the warm brown ink lending a rich, antiquarian tone to the image. The scene depicts the intimate culmination of the classical myth of Cupid and Psyche, showing the immortal lover and his mortal bride together in their bed. The focus on idealized anatomy and balanced composition reflects the sophisticated visual language popular in mid-sixteenth-century Italy.

The Master of the Die was instrumental in disseminating compositions to a broader audience across Europe. The resulting print stands as an important document of the era's reproductive printmaking, allowing classical mythology interpreted through High Renaissance ideals to reach collectors far beyond Rome. Active primarily in Italy, Die’s practice ensured that iconic compositions were widely circulated, shaping visual culture. This impressive example of early reproductive prints is housed in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, and, like many works of this age, high-resolution versions of the image are often found in the public domain.