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About This Work
This engraving reproduces a section of Raphael's fresco cycle in the Loggia di Psiche at the Villa Farnesina. The central figure of Mercury is depicted in mid-flight with his caduceus and winged sandals, while the surrounding spandrels contain putti holding a Bacchic thyrsus and Pan's syrinx. The entire scene is framed by heavy garlands of diverse fruits and vegetables, a hallmark of the original decorative scheme.
The narrative of Cupid and Psyche, drawn from Apuleius, was a central text for Renaissance Neoplatonists who viewed Psyche's trials and eventual union with Love as an allegory for the human soul's ascent to the divine. Mercury's role as the messenger and psychopomp connects the work to the Hermetic tradition, where he serves as the mediator between the earthly and celestial spheres.