Psyche Carried to Olympus

Follower of Marcantonio Raimondi after Raphael

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a classical figure ascending through the sky with cherubs. The central figure is a partially draped woman holding a round vessel aloft in one hand, with elegantly flowing fabric billowing around her. She ascends through the clouds, surrounded by cherubic figures that appear to assist in lifting her. Beneath her, a landscape unfolds with a collection of buildings resembling a fortified town or city, nestled among mountainous terrain and trees. The drawing's intricate lines and shading highlight the movement and grace of the figures, set against a vast, cloudy sky.