Cephalus And Procris, 18th Century

Oil on canvas "Cephalus and Procris", original gilded wooden frame.

Cephalus, thessalian prince (son of Deion and Diomede) had married Procris, (daughter of Erechtheus, king of Athens). She was remarkably beautiful. But Cephalus inspired a lively passion in Eos (Aurora); the latter, to detach him from Procris, urged him to test the fidelity of his wife. For this purpose, he entered near her, hidden under a disguise: having succeeded in seducing her, he chased her from his presence. Procris, ashamed, fled to Crete where Artemis gave her the gift of a dog and a magic javelin. Later Procris returned to his homes in the guise of an attractive young girl who offered herself to Cephalus. He accepted and Procris then made himself recognized.

The two spouses were reconciled. Jealousy however gripped the heart of Procris who thought that her husband joined Eos on his hunting parties. One night, therefore, she followed him in secret. She inadvertently wiggled a branch. Thinking that a game was hiding behind the foliage Cephalus threw his javelin and pierced the body of his dear Procris; desperate for this death, he killed himself with the same javelin. According to another version, the Areopagus banishes him for this murder. He retired to the island which took from him the name of Kefalonia and haunted by the ghost of his beloved ended up throwing himself into the sea.

18th century,
France.