Nymphs Helping Psyche with Her Toilette

Nymphs Helping Psyche with Her Toilette is an influential engraving created in Italy between 1530 and 1540 by the Master of the Die (Italian, active c. 1530-1560) after a design by Michiel Coxcie I, who, in turn, derived inspiration from the High Renaissance master Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael. This print, executed meticulously in warm brown ink on cream laid paper, exemplifies the complex international exchange of artistic ideas during the mid-16th century, translating a monumental painting or fresco concept into the more reproducible medium of prints.

The subject depicts the mythological heroine Psyche attended by nymphs, likely preparing for her union with Cupid or reflecting her enhanced status as a divine beauty. This narrative comes from Apuleius's The Golden Ass, a popular source for mythological subjects during the Renaissance. The Die employed precise engraving techniques to translate the volumetric forms and classical idealism of Raphael's style into the linear language of the printmaker. The composition, characterized by its fluid figures and classical architectural elements, allowed audiences across Europe to study the revered Roman styles without traveling to Italy.

Produced during a fertile period for printmaking, this engraving confirms the Master of the Die's role as a key figure in disseminating influential Renaissance designs, particularly those originating from Raphael’s workshop. Because the work is historically important for studying the transition between High Renaissance and Mannerist styles, reproductions of this piece are often made available through public domain collections, allowing wide access to its artistry. This significant example of 16th-century Italian printmaking resides in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.