{"product_id":"original-16th-century-virgil-solis-woodcut-medea-rejuvenating-aeson","title":"Original 16th-Century Virgil Solis Woodcut — Medea Rejuvenating Aeson","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 one of the most remarkable scenes of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003emagic and sorcery in classical literature: Medea restoring the youth of Aeson\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe story appears in Book VII of Ovid’s \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMetamorphoses\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAfter helping Jason obtain the Golden Fleece, the legendary sorceress Medea turns her supernatural abilities toward Jason’s elderly father, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAeson\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHer objective is extraordinary:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo make an old man young again.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMedea’s Magic Cauldron\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOvid describes Medea performing an elaborate ritual and preparing a magical potion within a great bronze cauldron.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe ingredients read almost like an ancient recipe for witchcraft.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInto the boiling mixture she places roots, seeds, flowers and dark juices gathered in Thessaly; stones from the distant East; sand washed by the Ocean; frost gathered beneath the moon; the wings and flesh of the mysterious \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003estrix\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e; portions of a wolf associated with transformation between human and animal form; serpent skin; and the liver of a long-lived stag.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe present woodcut depicts this dramatic ritual.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMedea stands beside the great vessel while the elderly Aeson lies stretched upon the ground. Behind them, flames rise dramatically from a series of ritual altars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Original Latin Survives\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRemarkably, substantial original Latin letterpress survives on the reverse of the fragment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe visible passage corresponds approximately to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOvid, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMetamorphoses\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Book VII, lines 261–273\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and describes the very magical preparation represented in the accompanying woodcut.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAmong the surviving lines is:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Et strigis infames ipsis cum carnibus alas…”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOvid includes the infamous wings of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003estrix\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, together with its flesh, among Medea’s ingredients.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe passage also contains an especially intriguing reference to:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“inque virum soliti vultus mutare ferinos\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eambigui prosecta lupi…”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—a mysterious wolf associated with changing its bestial appearance into that of a man.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOnce the potion is completed, Medea performs the final stage of her ritual. She opens Aeson’s throat, drains his old blood, and fills him with the magical preparation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe transformation succeeds.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAeson’s gray hair becomes dark. His wrinkles disappear. His strength returns.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe elderly man awakens restored to the vigor of his youth.\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 Medea Rejuvenating Aeson \/ Medea’s Magic Cauldron\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 VII\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVisible Latin:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Approximately lines 261–273\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 and attractive impression and excellent detail for its age.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSome discoloration and staining are present, including visible areas around the central figure and flames. The piece 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 of 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, 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":63198703222865,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0669\/0059\/0673\/files\/2D609A7A-EDEC-475A-A3D9-3BD4E85EF062.jpg?v=1793034898","url":"https:\/\/thedivinelibrarystore.com\/products\/original-16th-century-virgil-solis-woodcut-medea-rejuvenating-aeson","provider":"The Divine Library","version":"1.0","type":"link"}