DISCOVERART

Giorgio Ghisi

Cupid and Psyche

1574
engraving

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland · as of July 2026

View at clevelandart.org ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG

Crowned with laurel wreaths, Cupid and Psyche recline on a couch with their daughter Voluptas between them. Ceres, goddess of fertility and abundance, pours water on Cupid’s hand. The scene is derived from a story by Apuleius (about AD 124–170) narrating Psyche’s adventures leading up to her marriage to Cupid. The rich contrasts of light and shadow that Ghisi achieved in this engraving make this print especially sensual and luxurious. It reflects his later style and the different textures he was able to achieve in human bodies, silky drapery, and lush foliage.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Giorgio Ghisi

The Fall of Troy and the Escape of AeneasThe Fall of Troy and the Escape of AeneasThe Death of ProcrisThe Death of ProcrisAllegory of LifeAllegory of LifeThe TrinityThe TrinityThe Delphic SibylThe Delphic SibylThe NativityThe NativityThe Vision of EzekielThe Vision of EzekielThe Eritrean SibylThe Eritrean Sibyl

More like this

Cupid and PsycheGiorgio Ghisi|Giulio Romano — Cupid and PsycheVenus and Mars with cupid and the Three GracesGiovanni Jacopo Caraglio|Rosso Fiorentino|Master HCB — VenusThe Prodigal Son Squandering his Inheritance on HarlotsCornelis Bos — The Prodigal Son Squandering his Inheritance Envy or Avarice at the right being driven from the temple of the Muses by Hercules who raises a club, the muses watching from the leftMaster of the Die|Ugo da Carpi|Philippe Thomassin|BaldassareDiana Discovering Callisto's PregnancyCornelis Cort|Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) — Diana Discovering The Alliance of Venus with Bacchus and CeresJacob Matham|Hendrick Goltzius — The Alliance of Venus with Apollo and the Muses on Mount ParnassusGiorgio Ghisi — Apollo and the Muses on Mount ParnassusLove in the Elysian FieldsGiulio Bonasone (Italian, c. 1510–after 1576) — Love in the Allegorical composition with six Olympian gods gathered around a figure in armorLudovico Carracci|Oliviero Gatti — Allegorical composition wDaphne embracing her father, the river-god Peneus, at the left three nymphs bring jars from "Story of Apollo and Daphne"Master of the Die|Baldassare Tommaso Peruzzi — Daphne embracPan seated near a female figure holding a cornucopia (a nymph or Pomona), at right cupid plays cymbals in front of a herm, at left a pipe, cymbals, bow, and satchel of arrows hang from a treeGiulio Bonasone|Giulio Romano — Pan seated near a female figVenus and ErosAgostino Veneziano (Agostino dei Musi)|Giulio Romano — Venus