Proserpina Gives Psyche the Box of Beauty

The engraving Proserpina Gives Psyche the Box of Beauty (1530-1540) was executed by the Master of the Die (Italian, active c. 1530-1560). This print is a powerful example of artistic transmission during the Renaissance, as Die worked after a design by Flemish artist Michiel Coxcie I, who in turn drew inspiration from the monumental compositions of Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael. The subject derives from the Classical myth of Cupid and Psyche, illustrating the dramatic moment when the goddess of the Underworld, Proserpina, provides Psyche with a sealed box containing the secret of beauty, a dangerous task demanded by Venus.

Created in Italy during the height of High Renaissance influence, this finely detailed work is an engraving produced in warm brown ink on cream laid paper. The Master of the Die specialized in translating large-scale compositions, often frescoes or paintings, into accessible prints for a wide audience. The creation of such detailed prints allowed the complex visual language established by Raphael and his circle to disseminate rapidly across Europe. The meticulous line work visible in this piece demonstrates the Die’s technical skill in rendering the dynamism and idealized classical forms central to sixteenth-century Italian art.

This specific impression, a testament to the enduring popularity of mythological prints, is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The work, created nearly five centuries ago, is today often available through the public domain, ensuring its continued study and appreciation by researchers globally.