Psyche Presenting the Phial of Water to Venus

Psyche Presenting the Phial of Water to Venus is a compelling 18th-century drawing executed after the celebrated work of the great Renaissance master, Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael (Italian, 1483-1520). Dating from 1700-1799, this piece demonstrates the enduring influence of Raphael's narrative compositions long after his death. The drawing employs red chalk, the traditional medium for academic studies of Renaissance frescoes and figures, along with subtle traces of graphite applied to cream laid paper. This careful technique suggests an academic exercise undertaken in Italy, intended to capture the elegance and dynamic posing characteristic of the original design, likely derived from Raphael’s famous series illustrating the tale of Cupid and Psyche.

The subject derives from classical mythology, focusing on Psyche carrying out one of the impossibly difficult tasks set by the jealous goddess Venus: collecting water from the deadly river Cocytus in the Underworld. The composition centers on the moment Psyche presents the collected phial to the demanding deity, a scene emphasizing dramatic tension and classical form. Drawings such as this served a crucial role in the training of 18th-century artists, allowing them to intimately study and replicate the anatomical perfection and masterful drapery of Raphael’s figures. While the original designs by 1483-1520 are highly protected, the existence of subsequent copies and studies ensures that the compositional genius of Psyche Presenting the Phial of Water to Venus remains accessible. This detailed drawing is classified as a fundamental example of Italian draftsmanship from the period and is held within the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The widespread practice of copying Renaissance masters has ensured that images like this often enter the public domain, allowing broader scholarly access to the compositions of the High Renaissance.