Psyche Gives Presents to Her Sisters

"Psyche Gives Presents to Her Sisters" is a detailed engraving created between 1530 and 1540 by the Master of the Die (Italian, active c. 1530-1560). This specific print holds historical significance due to its complex artistic lineage. The Master of the Die based his composition on a design by the Flemish painter Michiel Coxcie I, who, in turn, derived inspiration from the celebrated High Renaissance compositions of Raffaello Sanzio, known as Raphael.

Executed in warm brown ink on cream laid paper, this work demonstrates the crucial role reproductive prints played in disseminating major Italian artistic achievements across Europe during the 16th century. The Die utilized the precision of engraving to translate the figures' idealized forms and classical drapery into the monochrome medium, capturing the dramatic tension of the classical narrative depicting Psyche's dealings with her envious sisters.

The scene reflects the aesthetic sensibilities of the High Renaissance, despite being rendered a decade after Raphael’s death. The strong Italian cultural influence is evident in the composition's balanced structure and figure modeling. This print, classified simply as a print, offers insight into the transnational exchange of artistic motifs and serves as a testament to Raphael’s enduring influence on subsequent generations of artists in Italy and beyond. Today, this historically important piece resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Reproductions of such masterful prints are often released into the public domain, ensuring their continued study and accessibility.