Master of the Die (1530-1560; fl.)

Master B (1530-1560) - Psyche in the underworld - Michiel Coxie / Description: Psyche enters the underworld giving an offering to Cerberus, at left sit three old women. Plate 26 from The story of Cupid and Psyche designed by Michiel Coxie I (1499-1592) and published by Antonio Salamanca (1478-1562) / Dimensions: 20,00 x 23,50 cm A very good impression on laid paper with full plate border and margins. Mild foxing of the margins. / Literature: Bartsch / Le Peintre graveur (XV.222.64) ------ The story of Cupid and Psyche. The series consists of 32 numbered plates, 3 by Agostino Veneziano (plates 4,7 and 13), the remainder by the Master of the Die (who only marked plates 6 and 9). Bartsch thought that the plates were designed by Raphael, but Vasari correctly stated that they were after Coxcie. Traditionally four states of the plates have been noted: 1. before the verses in the margin; 2. with the verses; 3. with the addition of Salamanca's address; and 4. with Salamanca's name replaced by Rossi's (on first plate only?)