Juno Sending Psyche Away is an exquisite example of Renaissance printmaking executed by the Master of the Die between 1530 and 1540. This Italian engraving is a complex artistic document, originating not as an original composition by the Master of the Die, but as a translation of a design by the Flemish artist Michiel Coxcie I, who in turn was channeling the monumental style of Raffaello Sanzio, known as Raphael. The robust lineage highlights the rapid transmission of influential artistic ideas across 16th-century Europe via reproducible media.
The Die rendered the scene using the precise intaglio technique of engraving, applied in a warm brown ink onto cream laid paper. This technical choice resulted in high-quality prints destined for collectors fascinated by classical mythology. The subject matter depicts a pivotal moment from the tale of Cupid and Psyche, where the Queen of the Gods, Juno, confronts the mortal Psyche. Though inspired by the idealized classical forms developed during the High Renaissance in Rome, the Die emphasizes the dramatic confrontation inherent in the mythological narrative.
Produced in Italy during a period of intense artistic dissemination, the enduring quality of these prints ensured that the great Roman compositions circulated widely across the continent. This particular impression of Juno Sending Psyche Away currently resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Given its age and cultural significance, the image is often found within the public domain, offering broad access to these historical Italian engravings for study and appreciation.
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