Old Woman Telling the Tale of Psyche
1590
copper
From the collection of Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon
1590
copper
From the collection of Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon
Old Woman Telling the Tale of Psyche is a 1590 copper by Martin Didier Pape, a Mannerism work, held at Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon.
This painting depicts an elderly woman and a younger woman seated together in a dark, mysterious setting. The older woman is holding a wand and gesturing to the younger woman, who sits with her head resting on her hand. A small dog is positioned near the older woman's feet. In the background, a stone wall and a unicorn are visible. The painting features a range of dark blues and grays, with subtle hints of light. The overall atmosphere is one of quiet contemplation, with the two women lost in thought. The use of chiaroscuro in this painting creates a sense of depth and dimensionality, drawing the viewer's eye into the scene.
Old Woman Telling the Tale of Psyche is a plaque in grisaille painted Limoges enamel by Martin Didier Pape, showing an old woman telling a young woman the story of Cupid and Psyche. It was made in the Limousin region around 1580, copying an engraving of the scene by the 'Master of the Die'. The work's French inscription states it is "after a composition by Raphael" and also includes the artist's name. It has been in the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon since 1851, whilst many of Pape's other works are in the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, USA.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Source: wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Martin Didier Pape painted stories on small copper panels in the late 1500s. Look for *Old Woman Telling the Tale of Psyche* in the bundle—a scene of an elder spinning a myth in rich, detailed colors. These copper…
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