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Title
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[Act XIII – Cupid Being Hanged by the Alguacil’s Men]
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Description
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After Sosia informs Tristan that Sempronio and Pármeno are dead, they awaken Calisto and tell him the news. Sosia explains that they were decapitated by the executioner on the orders of the justice (or ‘alguacil’). Calisto is struck with grief and asks Sosia to tell him the reason for their punishment. Sosia explains that they murdered Celestina because she would not share the gold chain that Calisto had given her.In this illustration, we see the alguacil’s men and onlookers standing around the gallows, where a winged Cupid (seen standing at the base of the ladder, blindfolded) is about to be hanged. The rightmost figure, dressed in armour, is holding Cupid’s bow in his left hand, while Cupid’s quiver can be seen resting at his feet. The leftmost figure, riding a horse and holding a stick-like object, is shown wearing a cloak and a hat. In the background we see two more male figures, of whom the one on the right is shown wearing a hat and holding a large axe. The choice to use Cupid instead of Sempronio and Pármeno is quite odd, as is the choice to show a hanging instead of a decapitation. The use of Cupid may be meant to convey the inevitable death of Calisto and Melibea’s love once Sempronio and Pármeno have been killed. However, a more likely explanation for the inclusion of this illustration is that the more relevant 1580 woodblock was misplaced or destroyed in the intervening 36 years.
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Image Creator
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Anonymous (Engraver)
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Heyndric Heyndricz (Printer)
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Identifier
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mta:18265
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Source Name
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Celestina, Een Tragicomedie van Calisto ende Melibea, inde welcke staen veel profijtelijcke sententien oft spreecwoorden, ende veel nootzakelijcke waerschouwinghen, byzonder voor Jonghe-ghezellen, betoonende het groot bedroch vande Pluym-strijckers, van de ontrouwe Dienaers, ende voor al van de Koppelerssen en̄ lichte Vrouwē.
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Image
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mta_18265_OBJ.jpg
mta_18265_OBJ.jpg