Narcissus in ein Blum

Title

Narcissus in ein Blum

Period

1550-1600;

Geographic

Ancient Greece

Boeotia

Description

This engraving illustrates Narcissus, the son of a beautiful nymph, who has discovered his own reflection in a fountain of water and fallen in love with himself. Narcissus was blessed with beautiful physical appearances; however, he had rejected the advances of anyone that showed interest in being his lover. After breaking the heart of yet another admirer, Narcissus was cursed by the goddess Nemesis after she heard a request from one of the people Narcissus had hurtfully rejected. Nemesis cursed Narcissus to feel the pain that his admirers had felt: the feeling of unrequited love. While wandering through the forest, as illustrated in the engraving, Narcissus spots himself in a fountain of water and painfully desires himself. Narcissus ends up melting from his burning passion and transforms into a flower.

Image Creator

Virgil Solis (Engraver)

Type

Text

Woodcut Engraving

Identifier

mta:21250

Language

ger

Source Name

P. Ouidij Nasonis, deß Sinnreichen und hochverstendigen Poeten, Metamorphoses oder Verwandlung, mit schönen figuren gezieret, auch kurzen Argumenten und außlegungen erkläret, und in Teutsche Reymen gebracht, durch Johann Spreng von Augspurg [Publius Ovidius Naso, the Ingenious and Highly Understandable Poet, Metamorphoses or Transformations, Adorned with Beautiful Images, and also descriptions of Short Arguments and Explanations, Brought into German Rhymes by Johann Spreng of Augsburg]

Parent Collection

1564 Frankfurt Spreng

Image

mta_21250_OBJ.jpg

Collection

Ovid's Metamorphoses

Subject

Unrequited Love

Greek Mythology

Roman Mythology

Goddesses

Gods

Nemesis

Narcissus

Transformation