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Curious Psyche

mid-1770's
Not on view
The mortal princess Psyche was so beautiful that she was worshipped in place of Venus. Cupid, sent by his angry mother to make Psyche fall in love with the vilest man on earth, fell in love with her himself and installed her in his enchanted palace. David depicts the moment when Psyche's lamp reveals that her mysterious lover is Eros. Presently, the god of love will be awakened by a drop of oil and flee.
David may have been the first Italian to take up the new medium of aquatint, which allowed him to imitate the subtle tonal effects of a wash drawing.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Curious Psyche
  • Artist: Giovanni David (Italian, Cabella Ligure 1749–1790 Genoa)
  • Date: mid-1770's
  • Medium: Etching and aquatint; corrected proof with notations in pen and brown ink
  • Dimensions: Plate: 11 3/16 × 7 1/2 in. (28.4 × 19 cm)
    Sheet: 12 5/8 × 8 15/16 in. (32 × 22.7 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1976
  • Object Number: 1976.629
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

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The Martyrdom of Saint Christopher, from "The Story of Saints James and Christopher in the Eremitani Chapel", Giovanni David Italian, Etching; second state of two
The Martyrdom of Saint Christopher, from "The Story of Saints James and Christopher in the Eremitani Chapel"
Giovanni David
After school of Andrea Mantegna
n.d.
Lobster-Tail Burgonet, Steel, leather, gold, North Italian
Lobster-Tail Burgonet
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ca. 1610
Plate 15: Pretty Advice (Bellos Consejos), from "Los Caprichos", Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes) Spanish, Etching, aquatint, burin, touches of pen and ink (proof impression)
Plate 15: Pretty Advice (Bellos Consejos), from "Los Caprichos"
Goya (Francisco de Goya y Lucientes)
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The Martyrdom of Saint Christopher, "Secondo Quadro", Giovanni David Italian, Etching; second state
The Martyrdom of Saint Christopher, "Secondo Quadro"
Giovanni David
After school of Andrea Mantegna
1776
Armor, Steel, copper alloy, textile, leather, Italian
Armor
Italian
ca. 1400–1450 and later

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