{"product_id":"original-16th-century-virgil-solis-woodcut-ceres-triptolemus-king-lyncus","title":"Original 16th-Century Virgil Solis Woodcut — Ceres, Triptolemus \u0026 King Lyncus","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 story of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCeres, Triptolemus, and King Lyncus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e from Book V of Ovid’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMetamorphoses\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDominating the upper portion of the composition is one of the most fantastic images in the Solis Ovid cycle:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCeres riding through the clouds in a chariot drawn by winged serpents or dragons.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBelow her unfolds a story of jealousy, attempted murder, divine intervention, and transformation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Mission of Triptolemus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCeres—the Roman goddess of agriculture—entrusted the young \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTriptolemus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e with an extraordinary mission.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHe was to travel throughout the world spreading the knowledge of grain and agriculture.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor his journey, Ceres provided him with her supernatural chariot, drawn through the heavens by winged serpents or dragons.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEventually Triptolemus arrived in Scythia and entered the palace of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKing Lyncus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe king welcomed the traveler and asked where he had come from and what had brought him to his kingdom.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTriptolemus explained his divine mission.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut Lyncus became jealous.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDesiring to claim the achievement for himself, the king attempted to murder Triptolemus while the young man slept.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA King Transformed Into a Lynx\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCeres intervened before Lyncus could complete the murder.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe king who had attempted to steal the goddess’s gift was transformed into a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003elynx\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVirgil Solis captures the supernatural character of the story dramatically. The attempted attack unfolds below while Ceres appears majestically overhead, traveling among the clouds in her serpent-drawn chariot.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe result is an extraordinary surviving example of Renaissance visual storytelling based upon classical mythology.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Ovid Text on the Reverse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSubstantial original Latin letterpress survives on the reverse.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRemarkably, the text preserves the conclusion of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArethusa and Alpheus\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e story immediately preceding this section of Book V.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe passage begins with Alpheus repeatedly calling:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Arethusa! Arethusa!”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArethusa remains concealed and terrified.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThen her transformation begins.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCold sweat covers her body. Drops of water fall from her limbs. Water flows wherever she moves her foot, while moisture falls from her hair.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFinally:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“In latices mutor…”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“I am changed into water.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe fragment therefore preserves two extraordinary transformations from Ovid: the reverse records \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArethusa transforming into water\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, while the accompanying illustration belongs to the subsequent narrative culminating in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKing Lyncus being transformed into a lynx\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\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 Ceres, Triptolemus \u0026amp; King Lyncus\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 V\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReverse text:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Conclusion of Arethusa and Alpheus\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 extensive fine detail.\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 previous mounting material.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe historical 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 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":63198960025681,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0669\/0059\/0673\/files\/A6CFEA48-8A85-4444-A22E-3D58A75A83CF.jpg?v=1793035653","url":"https:\/\/thedivinelibrarystore.com\/products\/original-16th-century-virgil-solis-woodcut-ceres-triptolemus-king-lyncus","provider":"The Divine Library","version":"1.0","type":"link"}