Venus Reprimanding Her Son, from The Story of Psyche

Venus Reprimanding Her Son, from The Story of Psyche is a sophisticated Italian engraving created between 1530 and 1540 by the Master of the Die (active c. 1530-1560). This influential print does not derive directly from the famed frescoes of the Villa Farnesina by Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael, but rather follows an intervening design executed by the Flemish artist Michiel Coxcie I, who translated Raphael’s mythological cycle for a northern audience. The resulting work exemplifies the complex chain of influence that defined early modern art reproduction, ensuring that the visual language of the Roman High Renaissance permeated collections across Europe.

The piece is a meticulously executed engraving in warm brown ink on cream laid paper, a medium that allowed the Die to capture the muscular figures and dramatic expressions of the classical narrative. The subject centers on a pivotal moment in The Story of Psyche, illustrating the goddess Venus in a state of high dudgeon as she confronts her son, Cupid. The arrangement of the figures and their dynamic gestures reflect the monumental style characteristic of Raphael’s school. This compelling work is a significant example of early prints from Italy, demonstrating how printmakers established commercial networks to disseminate celebrated compositions. Now part of the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, this valuable artwork is available through public domain access, offering researchers and students a clear visual document of 16th-century artistic translation.