The Two Sisters of Psyche are Married to Kings; ...Psyche is Presented to a King

The Two Sisters of Psyche are Married to Kings; ...Psyche is Presented to a King is an exceptional example of Renaissance printmaking executed by the Master of the Die (Italian, active c. 1530-1560). This influential print is a derivative work, based on designs originally created by Michiel Coxcie I (Flemish, 1499-1592), which were themselves inspired by the monumental fresco cycles of Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael (Italian, 1483-1520). The composition draws specifically from the frescoes decorating the Loggia of Psyche in the Villa Farnesina in Rome, demonstrating the vigorous chain of transmission for major Italian artistic ideas across Europe.

Created between 1530 and 1540, the work narrates a dramatic moment from the classical mythological tale of Psyche, focusing on the royal marriages of her sisters and Psyche’s own presentation before a powerful figure. This piece is classified as a print, utilizing the demanding technique of engraving rendered in warm brown ink on cream laid paper. The meticulous execution by Die successfully translates the sweeping grandeur and compositional complexity of Raphael’s High Renaissance designs into a scalable graphic format. Operating in Italy, the Master of the Die was essential in disseminating critical Roman imagery. The artwork, The Two Sisters of Psyche are Married to Kings; ...Psyche is Presented to a King, is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, providing scholars of prints an important reference point for Mannerist period reproductive works, many of which now belong to the public domain.