Psyche Going to Bathe 1786

Francesco Bartolozzi created this print, "Psyche Going to Bathe," sometime in the late 18th century using an engraving technique. It depicts a scene from classical mythology, but its display also reflects the printmaking industry that was exploding at the time. The print presents three female figures, presumably Psyche and her attendants, preparing for a bath. The scene is framed within an oval, imitating classical cameos and suggesting a refined, elite taste. Bartolozzi was working in London when this was made and was known for reproductive prints, meaning prints made after original artworks. The Royal Academy, founded in 1768, promoted history painting as the highest form of art, but prints allowed for wider distribution of imagery. The print market allowed consumers to engage with art outside the traditional patronage system. By studying the print's production and reception, we understand how art disseminates and how markets shape artistic taste. Auction catalogs, period advertisements, and visitor accounts are all sources that help to illuminate the social life of art in the 18th century.