Artwork
Cephalus and Procris
Cephalus and Procris is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Daniel Vertangen. It dates from 1647 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Daniel Vertangen’s 1647 canvas entitled *Cephalus and Procris* presents a quiet woodland tableau in which the mythic couple is rendered in a moment of tension. The composition is anchored by three figures—two barefoot humans and a small dog—set against a dense forest backdrop, with an additional, partially obscured figure visible in the distance.
Subject & Meaning
The work draws on the classical story of Cephalus and Procris, portraying the hunter Cephalus on the left, gripping a staff and appearing alert, while Procris on the right, clad in a short skirt and a draped mantle, gestures with a long implement, perhaps indicating a test of skill or fidelity. The presence of the dog underscores the hunting motif and the bond between the characters.
Technique & Style
Vertangen employs a delicate gradation of light, allowing the figures to emerge softly from the surrounding trees. The use of muted, earth‑toned pigments and subtle chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth, while the fine rendering of foliage and the animal’s motion convey a restrained dynamism typical of mid‑seventeenth‑century Dutch narrative painting.
History & Provenance
Completed in 1647, the painting entered the collection of Denmark’s national gallery, the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s broader effort to represent Dutch Baroque narrative art within its holdings.
Artist & collection
