Procri der gemahel Cephali · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Procri der gemahel Cephali
Period: 1500-1550;
Geographic: Thessaly; Ancient Greece
Description: When Cephalus was told that his wife (Procris) would abandon him in exchange for money and treasures, Cephalus began testing his wife. Cephalus would disguise himself and offer her gold and treasures in exchange for her love. This scene is depicted on the right side of the engraving. Procris rejected the disguised Cephalus multiple times, however, she eventually accepted his treasures. In this scene she is touching his chest as she looks at him. Cephalus is depicted with his arm touching Procris’ arm. Procris ended up regretting what she had done to her husband. To punish herself, Procris went to live in the woods. Cephalus had been hunting one day and had mistaken his wife for an animal and shot her. Procris is visible between the trees fallen to the ground after being shot by Cephalus. Cephalus is on the left side of the engraving on horse-back as his crossbow is leveled to his eye.
Image Creator: Joerg Breu (Engraver)
Type: Text; Woodcut Engraving
Identifier: mta:18301
Language: ger
Source Name: Ein schöne Cronica oder Hystoribuch von den fürnämlichsten Weybern [A beautiful chronicle or history book of reputable women]
Parent Collection: 1543 Stayner; 1543 Stayner
Image: mta_18301_OBJ.png
Collection: Early Modern Women
Subject: Procris; Cephalus; Important Women; Famous Women; Marriage