Artwork
Psyche Carried by Zephyr to the Palace Built by Cupid
Psyche Carried by Zephyr to the Palace Built by Cupid is an ink print by the Romanticist artist François Xavier Vispré. It dates from 1780 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Around 1780, French artist François‑Xavier Vispré created an etching and aquatint on laid paper, printed in a warm brown tone.
About this work
Overview
Around 1780, French artist François‑Xavier Vispré created an etching and aquatint on laid paper, printed in a warm brown tone. The print illustrates a scene from classical mythology in which Psyche is being borne aloft by Zephyr toward the palace constructed by Cupid. The work is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection in Washington, D.C.
Subject & Meaning
To her left, a smaller winged boy gestures toward her, while on the right a winged figure leans forward, clutching a scroll or ribbon.
The composition shows three winged figures amidst gentle clouds. Psyche, a young woman with flowing hair, sits sideways on a cloud, gazing downward. To her left, a smaller winged boy gestures toward her, while on the right a winged figure leans forward, clutching a scroll or ribbon. The imagery follows the narrative of Psyche’s ascent to Cupid’s abode, emphasizing themes of love and divine assistance.
Technique & Style
Vispré employed a combination of etching and aquatint, allowing for fine line work alongside tonal washes that convey atmospheric depth. The brown ink on laid paper produces a soft, muted palette, while the aquatint areas render the clouds and background with subtle gradations, enhancing the ethereal quality of the scene.
History & Provenance
The print is derived from a preparatory sketch by Angelica Kauffman, a prominent Neoclassical painter. Vispré’s adaptation demonstrates the practice of reproducing popular compositions for wider circulation. The piece entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings through acquisition, where it remains on display as an example of late‑18th‑century printmaking.
Artist & collection
Artist
François-Xavier Vispré (13 May 1725 - 28 August 1792) was a French portrait painter and printmaker who spent time in London and Dublin.
Fleuron for the Title Pages
Venus binding her hair with a garland, attended by Cupids
The Disciples at the Tomb
Eros and Psyche
Allegory of Painting with Three Cherubs (99)
Allegory
Art of the Lithograph: Madonna and Child on the Clouds, Plate II
Esquisse d’un tombeau (Sketch for a Tomb)
Fleuron for the Title Pages
Four Cherubs at Target Practice
The Trinity
Cupid and Psyche