Cephalus and Procris (The Death of Procris)
- Artist
- Joachim Anthonisz Wtewael, Dutch, 1566–1638
- Date
- c.1595–1600
- Material
- Oil on canvas
- made in
- Utrecht, Netherlands, Europe
- Classification
- Paintings
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 236
- Dimensions
- 51 1/8 x 38 3/4 in. (129.9 x 98.4 cm)
framed: 63 11/16 x 51 5/16 x 3 3/8 in. (161.8 x 130.3 x 8.6 cm) - Credit Line
- Museum Purchase
- Rights
- Contact Us
- Object Number
- 198:1957
NOTES
Dying from the arrow in her chest, Procris sits in front of her husband, Cephalus, an expert hunter who accidentally shot her. Suspicious that Cephalus was visiting a lover instead of hunting, Procris hid in a bush to spy on him. Mistaking her movement for prey, the hunter shot his wife.
Like many of his contemporaries, Joachim Wtewael used contrived poses, extended limbs, shading from light to dark, and acidic colors to achieve a visually interesting composition. Procris is posed to demonstrate the artist’s skill at rendering the human figure rather than to capture her agony or give the painting the feeling of an eyewitness account.
Like many of his contemporaries, Joachim Wtewael used contrived poses, extended limbs, shading from light to dark, and acidic colors to achieve a visually interesting composition. Procris is posed to demonstrate the artist’s skill at rendering the human figure rather than to capture her agony or give the painting the feeling of an eyewitness account.