Philemon et Baucis in Arbores · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: Philemon et Baucis in Arbores
Period: 1550-1600;
Geographic: Belgium; Antwerp (Belgium); Spanish Netherlands
Description: The Gods Jupiter and Mercury informed the couple Philemon and Baucis of their Godliness, and asked that they ascend the mountain to avoid a punishment destined for the rest of the city in return for their hospitality. As they reached the top of the mountain, they beheld their city sinking into mud, with their house alone still standing, having been transformed into a temple by the Gods. Jupiter and Mercury ask them what they desire most, and they ask to be priests to the Gods and to die at the same moment, so as never to be without each other. After serving years as priests, the two aged lovers were both transformed into trees near the front steps of the temple (as seen in this illustration).
Image Creator: Petrus Vander Borcht [Pieter van der Borcht] (Engraver)
Type: StillImage; Engraving
Identifier: mta:24435
Language: lat
Source Name: Metamorphoses: Argumentis Breuioribus ex Luctatio Grammatico collectis expositae: una cum viuis singularum Transformationum iconibus in aes incisis
Parent Collection: Metamorphoses: Argumentis Breuioribus ex Luctatio Grammatico collectis expositae. Engravings by Petrus Vander Borcht (1591)
Image: mta_24435_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Ovid's Metamorphoses
Subject: Jupiter (Roman deity); Mercury (Roman deity); Baucis; Philemon; Trees; Hospitality