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Source Description

From the Middle Ages to the 18th century, large tapestries were used as decoration and insulation in the homes of the wealthy, especially in northern Europe. Flanders was the center for tapestry weaving in Europe, in part because of the important local wool industry. Greek and Roman myths interpreted as moral lessons were popular subjects. The myth of the huntsman Cephalus and his wife Procris was presented as a parable of the misfortunes caused by a lack of marital trust and fidelity.According to the Roman poet Ovid (43 BC-AD 17) in "The Metamorphoses," Cephalus is urged by a goddess to test the faithfulness of his wife. He goes to her in disguise and attempts to seduce her. When she begins to yield, he reveals himself by removing his mask. The first tapestry depicts this moment. In the second, the couple reconciles, and Procris gives her husband a magical dog and spear that Artemis (goddess of the hunt) had given to her. In the third scene, Cephalus, accompanied by a nymph, takes the dog and spear with him to hunt a stag. Procris grows suspicious that Cephalus is being unfaithful and follows him into the forest. Hearing her movements in the bushes, Cephalus mistakes her for a wild animal and accidentally kills her with his spear. In the fourth scene, Cephalus cradles the dying Procris in his arms.

Scholar Source Context

Document identity
localId
38410
label
Scene from the Story of Cephalus and Procris: The Hunt
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
38410
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Scene from the Story of Cephalus and Procris: The Hunt
description
From the Middle Ages to the 18th century, large tapestries were used as decoration and insulation in the homes of the wealthy, especially in northern Europe. Flanders was the center for tapestry weaving in Europe, in part because of the important local wool industry. Greek and Roman myths interpreted as moral lessons were popular subjects. The myth of the huntsman Cephalus and his wife Procris was presented as a parable of the misfortunes caused by a lack of marital trust and fidelity.According to the Roman poet Ovid (43 BC-AD 17) in "The Metamorphoses," Cephalus is urged by a goddess to test the faithfulness of his wife. He goes to her in disguise and attempts to seduce her. When she begins to yield, he reveals himself by removing his mask. The first tapestry depicts this moment. In the second, the couple reconciles, and Procris gives her husband a magical dog and spear that Artemis (goddess of the hunt) had given to her. In the third scene, Cephalus, accompanied by a nymph, takes the dog and spear with him to hunt a stag. Procris grows suspicious that Cephalus is being unfaithful and follows him into the forest. Hearing her movements in the bushes, Cephalus mistakes her for a wild animal and accidentally kills her with his spear. In the fourth scene, Cephalus cradles the dying Procris in his arms.
provenance
Mrs. Trafford P. Klots, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1983, by gift.
date
ca. 1650-70
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Textiles
tapestries
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
269.6
height
431.8
dimensionsRaw
H: 106 1/8 x W: 170 in. (269.6 x 431.8 cm)
Source extras
cul
Flemish
med
wool
creator_ids
6505
collection_ids
BAR
exhibition_ids
none
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
969076ab99a18681