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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

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Virgin and Child, Giovanni David Italian, Etching
Virgin and Child
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Domenico Corvi
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Saint Sebastian, Giovanni David Italian, Etching; first state of two
Saint Sebastian
Giovanni David
1770–90
The Death of Procris, Giovanni David Italian, Etching
The Death of Procris
Giovanni David
1770–90
Icarus and Daedalus, Giovanni David Italian, Etching
Icarus and Daedalus
Giovanni David
1775

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