Plate 13: Psyche looking at Cupid, from "The Story of Cupid and Psyche as told by Apuleius" 1530 - 1560

Agostino Veneziano's "Plate 13: Psyche looking at Cupid" (1530-1560) is an etching from a series that depicts the story of Cupid and Psyche as told by Apuleius. This print showcases the moment when Psyche, forbidden from seeing Cupid, disobeys him and, with a lamp in hand, gazes at him while he sleeps. The scene depicts the nude figures of Cupid and Psyche in a darkened chamber, with the drapery forming a dramatic backdrop. The composition emphasizes the vulnerability of Cupid as Psyche holds the lamp, signifying her disobedience and the impending consequences. This etching, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, offers viewers a glimpse into the intricate narratives and artistic techniques prevalent in 16th-century Italian Renaissance art.