Artwork
Cephalus und Procris
Cephalus und Procris is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Polidoro da Lanciano. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Polidoro da Lanciano, an Italian painter active in the mid‑16th century, produced the oil work *Cephalus und Procris* around 1550. Executed in a Mannerist idiom, the painting is part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s collection in Vienna.
Subject & Meaning
The composition illustrates the tragic myth of Cephalus and Procris, showing the male figure in a tunic reaching toward his lover, who sits opposite him with a spear in hand. Their poised interaction conveys a moment of tension and resolve within a wooded setting.
Technique & Style
Employing chiaroscuro, the artist models the figures against a dark forest backdrop, creating depth and a dramatic contrast of light and shadow. The elongated forms and refined gestures are characteristic of Mannerist aesthetics, emphasizing elegance over naturalism.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1550, the painting entered the holdings of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains on display. Its attribution to Polidoro da Lanciano is based on stylistic analysis and archival records linking the work to the artist’s known output.
Artist & collection
Artist
Polidoro de Rienzo da Lanciano (Lanciano, 1515–1565) was an Italian painter. Relatively little is known of his life. He was born in Lanciano, a town that is a few miles inland from Ortona, a port on the Adriatic Sea.…
