Landscape with Cephalus and Procris (Primary Title)
Alexander Keirincx, Flemish, 1600 - 1652 (Artist)
This beautifully preserved painting with its brilliant colors, fantastic tangle of trees, and mythological figures shows the exotic, imaginary character of many Flemish landscapes of the early 1600s.
The tragic story of Cephalus and Procris comes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Procris gave her new husband, Cephalus, a splendid spear and hunting dogs. Unjustly suspecting him of being unfaithful, she followed him through the woods. He mistook her for an animal in the brush and killed her with the spear. Here Keirincx shows the moment when Procris gives Cephalus the fateful spear. The story ends happily, though, when Diana, Goddess of the Hunt, takes pity on her subjects, restores Procris to life, and reunites her with her husband.
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.