Psyche

Joseph Anthony Mugnaini

A lithograph done by Joseph Mugnaini in 1953, working with the California Master Printer, lithographer Lynton Kistler. From a series of mythological themes done in editions of 20. This impression is accompanied by an 'authentication' from Kistler and signed by Mugnaini.

Mugnaini began his long-time collaboration with author Ray Bradbury in 1952, during which time he interpreted and illustrated many of Bradbury's books, including "Fahrenheit 451" through the "Martian Chronicles".

Psyche was born a mortal woman, the youngest daughter of a Greek king and queen. Her beauty rivaled that of the goddess Aphrodite who took revenge upon Psyche when people started worshipping her. Aphrodite sent her son Eros (Cupid) to make Psyche fall in love with a vile person. Instead Eros fell in love and spared her. When no man spoke for Psyche's hand in marriage, her father consulted the Oracle of Delphi. Apollo directed him to dress her in funeral clothes and take her to the tallest spire where she would marry a beast. Psyche jumped from the rock spire but was saved by the Greek god of the west wind, Zephyrus, who took her to the palace of Eros. Upon the death of Psyche, Eros took her to Olympus and she was made the goddess of the soul.