Cupid Fleeing from Psyche

The Renaissance print, Cupid Fleeing from Psyche, was executed by the Master of the Die (Italian, active c. 1530-1560) between 1530 and 1540. This important engraving, rendered using the intricate linear technique of the Die in warm brown ink on cream laid paper, is a fascinating example of artistic influence and the dissemination of classical imagery in 16th-century Italy. The Die specialized in translating monumental compositions into smaller, portable graphic art, a crucial practice for sharing designs across the European continent.

The composition itself traces an impressive lineage, having been designed by the Flemish artist Michiel Coxcie I, who adapted a work originally conceived by the High Renaissance master Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael. This layered attribution underscores the popularity and enduring impact of Raphael’s style long after his death. The scene captures a moment of intense psychological drama from the classical myth of Cupid and Psyche, likely illustrating the instant of separation following Psyche’s disastrous realization of her divine lover’s true identity. The technique demonstrated by Die establishes his importance within the early history of reproductive prints.

This detailed print, classified simply as an engraving, is a key record of compositional designs that might otherwise be lost. Residing in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, the work exemplifies the high standard of printmaking achieved in Italy during this period. Today, Cupid Fleeing from Psyche is a significant piece of Italian graphic art, made widely accessible through public domain initiatives.