The People Rendering Divine Honors to Psyche

The People Rendering Divine Honors to Psyche is a sophisticated engraving created in Italy between 1530 and 1540 by the artist known only as the Master of the Die (Italian, active c. 1530-1560). This particular print reflects the complex artistic lineage of the High Renaissance. Die based his composition on a design by the Flemish painter Michiel Coxcie I (1499-1592), who in turn adapted a famous composition by the foundational Italian master, Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael (1483-1520). Executed in warm brown ink on cream laid paper, the piece classifies as a fine Renaissance print, demonstrating the technical skill necessary for engraving during this dynamic period of cultural exchange.

The subject illustrates the classical myth of Psyche, focusing on the moment mortals mistakenly worship her beauty as divine, believing her to be Venus. The work is exemplary of how Renaissance designs spread across Europe. Artists like the Master of the Die played a crucial role in disseminating styles, translating celebrated frescoes and paintings into reproducible prints, thereby democratizing access to iconic imagery throughout Italy and beyond. The popularity and accessibility of such works ensured the continued influence of Raphael's High Renaissance classicism long after his death.

This impressive Italian engraving is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The piece offers a valuable record of early sixteenth-century printmaking techniques. Today, high-resolution images of these influential The People Rendering Divine Honors to Psyche prints are often available through public domain initiatives, allowing researchers globally to study the crucial role of Die in the transmission of classical iconography and Italian artistic innovation.