Cleveland Museum of Art
The Death of Procris
Giorgio GhisiLinkedCulture matchlcp-7db0c19dfa1a
- Date
- c. 1540
- Medium
- engraving
- Culture
- Italy, 16th century
- Department
- Prints
- Institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Object ID
- 152306
From the Cleveland Museum of Art record
In the complicated tale of Procris and Cephalus, told by the poet Ovid (43 BC–AD 17), jealousy tragically thwarts their true love and fidelity. Fearing that Cephalus loves a nymph, Procris spies on her husband while he is hunting. When Cephalus hears Procris rustling in the woods, he mistakes her for game and throws his magical spear that never misses its mark. In this print, the chorus of expressive satyrs and nymphs mourning her death highlights the heartbreaking drama of this love story. Romano’s intricate composition also includes Aurora, the goddess of dawn, in her chariot, and distant buildings that refer to the couple’s home in Athens.
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Provenance & credit
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- Credit line
- John L. Severance Fund
- Provenance
- Viti-Antaldi (16th-19th centuries)?, Urbino and Pesaro, script (Lugt 2246), lower left, in pen and brown ink [script very similar, but not exactly like Lugt]; unknown collector, Australia
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