Virgil Solis – Minerva Visits the House of Envy – Ovid’s Metamorphoses – 16th Century Woodcut, Design First Published 1563

An exceptional original 16th-century Renaissance woodcut by Virgil Solis (1514–1562) illustrating one of the darker episodes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Book II: Minerva visiting Invidia, the personification of Envy.

The scene comes from the story of Aglauros. Minerva (Athena), shown at right carrying her spear, travels to the grim dwelling of Invidia (Envy) and commands her to infect Aglauros, daughter of Cecrops, with consuming jealousy.

Ovid gives a wonderfully grotesque description of Envy—pale, emaciated and corrupted by the very jealousy she inflicts upon others. The woodcut captures the encounter by contrasting the imposing figure of Minerva with the shadowy dwelling of Envy.

The design belongs to the celebrated series of illustrations created by Virgil Solis for Ovid’s Metamorphoses. The cycle was first published at Frankfurt in 1563 and subsequently appeared in additional 16th-century editions.

Remarkably, the reverse of this example preserves portions of the original Latin text of Ovid corresponding directly to the episode illustrated on the front. Among the surviving lines is Minerva’s command to Envy:

“Infice tabe tua natarum Cecropis unam…”

—ordering Envy to infect one of the daughters of Cecrops with her poison.

This surviving text provides an unusually direct connection between the Renaissance illustration and the ancient literary passage it was created to accompany.

Details

Artist: Virgil Solis (1514–1562)
Subject: Minerva/Pallas Visiting Invidia (Envy)
Work: Ovid, Metamorphoses, Book II
Design first published: Frankfurt, 1563
Date of this impression: 16th century
Origin: Germany
Medium: Original woodcut on laid paper
Language on reverse: Latin
Approx. image size: 6.3 × 8.2 cm

Condition

The illustrated side is in excellent visual condition for its age, retaining a remarkably crisp, dark impression with strong detail.

The reverse preserves substantial original Latin letterpress from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Old mounting material and adhesive residue are present on the reverse, including a strip of reddish mounting paper along the upper portion, from a previous owner or historic mounting. Small remnants of additional mounting material are also present.

No attempt has been made to remove the old mounting material or adhesive, as doing so could risk damaging the approximately 450-year-old paper.

Please examine all photographs carefully for the exact condition.

A fascinating surviving artifact connecting classical mythology, Renaissance art, and the history of early European printing.