Artwork
Cephalus and Procris
Cephalus and Procris is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Godfried Schalcken. It dates from 1692 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Dated 1692, it presents the titular characters in a moment that alludes to their tragic narrative of love and fidelity.
The painting portrays the mythological figures Cephalus and Procris, a man and a woman drawn from Greek mythology. Dated 1692, it presents the titular characters in a moment that alludes to their tragic narrative of love and fidelity. Rendered in oil on canvas, the work reflects the classical subject matter typical of Schalcken's mythological pictures, and its place in the Metropolitan Museum of Art underscores the enduring significance of this myth in Western art.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, measuring approximately 64.8 cm in height and 79.7 cm in width. As a mythological painting, it depicts the figures of Cephalus and Procris within a narrative scene. The medium and support align with Schalcken's practice of using oil on canvas to render the detailed, luminous surfaces characteristic of his work.
History & Provenance
Cephalus and Procris was executed by Godfried Schalcken in 1692 as an oil on canvas depicting the mythological couple. While specific commission details are not recorded in the available sources, the work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and measures 64.8 cm in height by 79.7 cm in width. The available sources do not provide an accession number, earlier ownership history, or a specific exhibition record.
Overview
Godfried Schalcken's 1692 oil painting, Cephalus and Procris, exemplifies Dutch Golden Age artistry. This work, now housed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a dramatic scene drawn from classical mythology. Schalcken, a Dutch artist, was particularly recognized for his ability to render figures and environments with nuanced lighting, often focusing on intimate, dimly lit compositions.
He was known for his genre paintings and portraits, working in the refined manner of the Leiden fijnschilders.
Context
As a prominent figure of the Dutch Golden Age, Godfried Schalcken was celebrated for his genre scenes and portraits, often distinguished by their meticulous detail and sophisticated use of light. Cephalus and Procris reflects his particular talent for rendering dramatic narratives through controlled illumination, a characteristic that earned him renown for his "night scenes" and his ability to simulate the glow of candlelight, a skill evident in the focused lighting on the main characters.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Godfried Schalcken (8 October 1643 – 16 November 1706) was a Dutch artist who specialized in genre paintings and portraits.
