Artwork
Liber Studiorum: Procris and Cephalus
Liber Studiorum: Procris and Cephalus is a print by Joseph Mallord William Turner. It dates from 1823 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Joseph Mallord William Turner created the print Liber Studiorum: Procris and Cephalus around 1812-1816, as part of his Liber Studiorum series, a collection of etchings and mezzotints that showcased his evolving style.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a scene from classical mythology, showing a man and woman in a forest. The man, holding a bow and arrow, sits beside the woman, who appears injured or deceased, suggesting a tragic event, possibly related to the myth of Procris and Cephalus.
Technique & Style
The work employs chiaroscuro, creating a dramatic contrast between light and dark, which heightens the sense of tension and tragedy in the scene. The use of etching and mezzotint techniques allows for detailed rendering of the forest setting and the figures.
Context
The print reflects Turner's broader engagement with historical and literary subjects in his work, and his innovative use of techniques and style, which later influenced the development of Impressionist and Abstract Art movements.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Mallord William Turner was born in 1775 at Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, where his father kept a barber and wig-making shop.
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