{"product_id":"original-16th-century-virgil-solis-woodcut-atalanta-hippomenes-transformed-into-lions","title":"Original 16th-Century Virgil Solis Woodcut — Atalanta \u0026 Hippomenes Transformed into Lions","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVirgil Solis (1514–1562) | Ovid’s Metamorphoses | Germany, 16th Century\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn original 16th-century Renaissance woodcut illustrating the extraordinary conclusion of the myth of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAtalanta and Hippomenes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e from Book X of Ovid’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMetamorphoses\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAtalanta was renowned throughout the ancient world for her extraordinary speed. Determined to avoid marriage, she declared that she would marry only the man capable of defeating her in a footrace.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHippomenes accepted the challenge—but knew that he could not defeat Atalanta through speed alone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHe appealed to Venus.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe goddess gave him three golden apples and instructed him to throw them during the race. Each time Atalanta stopped to retrieve one, Hippomenes gained precious ground.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe plan succeeded.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHippomenes defeated Atalanta and won her hand.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut he failed to properly thank the goddess who had given him victory.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTransformed Into Lions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAngered by Hippomenes’ ingratitude, Venus caused the couple to violate the sanctity of a shrine associated with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCybele, the Mother of the Gods\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTheir punishment was extraordinary.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAtalanta and Hippomenes were transformed into \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003elions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe present woodcut captures this dramatic conclusion to their story. The transformed lovers appear as two lions before a classical sanctuary, while the goddess sits enthroned within the temple.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe image belongs to the celebrated Renaissance Ovid illustration tradition of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVirgil Solis (1514–1562)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, whose woodcuts for the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMetamorphoses\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e first appeared at Frankfurt in 1563 and were reused in subsequent 16th-century editions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Original Latin Survives\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSubstantial original Latin letterpress survives on the reverse and provides remarkable direct evidence for identifying the scene.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe visible text corresponds to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOvid, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMetamorphoses\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Book X, approximately lines 676–688\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt begins during the final moments of the race between Atalanta and Hippomenes. Atalanta hesitates before retrieving the golden apple thrown by Hippomenes, but Venus compels her to take it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSlowed by the apple, Atalanta is overtaken.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Praeterita est virgo: duxit sua praemia victor.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe maiden was passed; the victor carried away his prize.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVenus then recounts Hippomenes’ failure to thank her for providing the means of his victory. Enraged at the insult, she determines to punish the couple.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe final surviving lines describe Atalanta and Hippomenes approaching a temple of the Mother of the Gods—the setting for the act that ultimately results in their transformation into lions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe physical fragment therefore preserves both Renaissance imagery and the original Latin narrative immediately preceding the transformation it illustrates.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDetails\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArtist\/Design:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Virgil Solis (1514–1562)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSubject:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Atalanta and Hippomenes Transformed into Lions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWork:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Ovid, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMetamorphoses\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBook:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Book X\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVisible Latin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Approximately lines 676–688\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDesign first published:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Frankfurt, 1563\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDate:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 16th century\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Germany\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMedium:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Original woodcut on laid paper\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReverse:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Original Latin letterpress\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eApprox. image size:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 6.3 × 8.2 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe woodcut survives with a strong, attractive impression and excellent detail for its age.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe fragment has been trimmed from its original book leaf.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reverse retains substantial original Latin letterpress together with remnants from an old mounting. A reddish strip of mounting paper remains adhered across the upper portion, along with smaller traces of historical mounting material.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe old mounting material has intentionally been left undisturbed to avoid risking damage to the approximately 450-year-old paper.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease examine all photographs carefully, particularly those of the reverse, as they form an important part of the condition description.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Divine Library","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":63193748668497,"sku":null,"price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0669\/0059\/0673\/files\/75C134BC-63D5-453F-A510-2904274FE1BB.jpg?v=1793015580","url":"https:\/\/thedivinelibrarystore.com\/products\/original-16th-century-virgil-solis-woodcut-atalanta-hippomenes-transformed-into-lions","provider":"The Divine Library","version":"1.0","type":"link"}