The Olympian gods at the marriage feast of Cupid and Psyche, after Raphael
Original title: The Olympian gods at the marriage feast of Cupid and Psyche, after Raphael
kurzbeschreibung
The Master of the Die, an Italian Renaissance engraver, produced this print between 1530 and 1535. It depicts the assembly of the Olympian gods at the wedding feast of Cupid and Psyche, based on a design by Raphael. The image is executed as an engraving.
Description
A crowd of figures gathers around a set table with plates, cups, and a jug. In the foreground stand several men in simple garments, one barefoot; a child plays a pipe on the ground. On the left, someone pours water into a bucket, while women appear further back, one with a mirror, another with a fruit. The layout is symmetrical and stays in shades of grey, framed by columns and curtains; strong shadows are absent.
Context
Behind the Master of the Die stands an Italian Renaissance engraver who followed Raphael's designs. This print reproduces a fresco from the Villa Farnesina in Rome, which Raphael executed for the banker Agostino Chigi. Dated around 1530–35, it belongs to the phase of Raphael reception when his designs circulated widely through printmaking.
Impact
The even arrangement and calmly distributed light give the image a solemn, balanced mood. The precise rendering of figures and space lends the view a noble, classicizing poise.
Technique
For this engraving, lines were incised into a metal plate and then printed. The grey tones arise from varying density and direction of the lines, allowing subtle transitions between light and shadow.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)