Venus Pointing out Psyche to Cupid

The detailed drawing Venus Pointing out Psyche to Cupid is an 18th-century work created after Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael, and his workshop Italian, 1483-1520. Classified as a drawing, this piece demonstrates a complex layering of materials: pen and brown ink, coupled with brush and brown wash, applied over preliminary traces of black chalk. The drawing is rendered on ivory laid paper, which has subsequently been tipped onto a larger cream laid paper support. Dating to the period between 1700 and 1799, this execution exemplifies the enduring interest in classical mythology and the continuous reverence for High Renaissance masterworks that defined later Italian art.

The specific scene depicts the goddess Venus directing the attention of her son, Cupid, toward the mortal figure of Psyche, a narrative derived from the popular ancient text The Golden Ass by Apuleius. The drawing is likely a preparatory study or a faithful copy based on one of the compositions associated with Raphael's large-scale decorative projects, many of which were disseminated via prints and engravings throughout Europe. The handling of the wash expertly utilizes light and shadow, capturing the dramatic modeling characteristic of the Renaissance style pioneered by Raphael, even centuries after his lifetime.

Currently housed in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, this work provides scholars with tangible insight into drawing techniques prevalent in 18th-century Italy. As the foundational compositions by Sanzio are widely studied across the continent, drawings like this often serve as essential reference points, with high-quality prints and reproductions derived from such interpretations frequently finding their way into the public domain for accessibility and further research.