Tereus, having imprisoned Philomela and raped her, prepares to cut out her tongue. Engraving by W. Walker after C. Eisen.

  • Eisen, Charles, 1720-1778.
Date:
[between 1770 and 1779?]
Reference:
3020395i
  • Pictures

About this work

Description

Ovid. Metamorphoses VI, 519674. Tereus has taken Philomela to a high abode hidden in ancient woods ("in stabula alta trahit, silvis obscura vetustis"), and raped her. She tears her hair ("passos laniata capillos") and speaks out against him. His sword, shown here still in its sheath, will be used to cut out her tongue ("vagina liberat ensem ... linguam abstulit ense fero")

Publication/Creation

[London] (No. 46 Fleet Street) : Published by G. Kearsly, [between 1770 and 1779?]

Physical description

1 print : engraving, with etching ; platemark 20.3 x 15.1 cm

Contributors

Lettering

Tereus, after having cut out the tongue of Philomela, confines her in an old castle. Ch. Eisen del. W. Walker sc. The lettering does not represent the same stage in the narrative as the depiction

Creator/production credits

Designed by Eisen to illustrate an edition of Ovid's Metamorphoses, 1767-1771

Reference

Wellcome Collection 3020395i

Type/Technique

Languages

Subjects

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores

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