Plate 3: Psyche's two sisters are married to kings, from "The Fable of Psyche"

Art Historical Context

This enchanting engraving, *Plate 3: Psyche's two sisters are married to kings*, from the series *The Fable of Psyche*, captures a pivotal moment in the ancient Roman tale from Apuleius's *The Golden Ass*. Here, Psyche's envious sisters wed royal suitors in lavish splendor, contrasting their earthly fortunes with Psyche's divine yet tormented love for Cupid. Produced between 1530 and 1560, it draws from the Renaissance fascination with classical mythology, bringing the myth's drama to life through intricate printmaking. Attributed to the Master of the Die (engraver), Antonio Salamanca (publisher), and Michiel Coxie (I) (likely designer), the work reflects the era's masterful engraving technique. Coxie, a Flemish artist emulating Raphael's elegance, contributed to a vogue for reproductive prints that democratized high art. At 7 11/16 x 8 7/8 inches, this intimate sheet allowed widespread dissemination of mythological narratives, blending detailed linework to evoke opulent wedding scenes filled with kings, men, and women in period attire. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Harry G. Friedman, 1962), it exemplifies 16th-century print culture's role in preserving and popularizing stories of jealousy, beauty, and fate—inviting us to ponder Psyche's looming trials.

About the Artist

Master of the Die|Antonio Salamanca|Michiel Coxie (I) · 1525–1560

**Master of the Die** (fl. 1525–1560) was an anonymous Italian engraver and printmaker active primarily in Rome during the mid-16th century. Named for the distinctive small die he used to sign his prints—a tiny emblematic mark that became his moniker—this elusive artist remains unidentified despite scholarly proposals linking him to figures like Benedetto Verino, Giovanni Francesco Zabello, Tommas...