The Wedding Feast of Cupid and Psyche
ca. 1570
Medium
Painted enamel on copper, partly gilt
Dimensions
Diameter: 12 1/8 in. (30.8 cm)
Classification
Enamels
Culture
French, Limoges
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The F.O. Matthiessen Collection, Gift of Mrs. Emma Matthiessen, in memory of her husband, 1904
Accession Number
04.6.7
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite roundel, created around 1570 in the renowned enamel workshops of Limoges, France, captures the joyous wedding feast of Cupid and Psyche from classical mythology. Pierre Rey, one of the leading artists of the period collaborated here with the Master of the Die to depict the divine couple surrounded by gods and attendants in a lively celebration. The scene reflects the Renaissance fascination with ancient tales, which were frequently adapted for courtly and devotional objects during the sixteenth century. Measuring just over twelve inches across, the plaque is executed in painted...