Cephalus and Procris c. 1593 - 1610

François Spiering created this tapestry of Cephalus and Procris, sometime in the late 16th or early 17th century, using wool and silk. As a visual medium, tapestries served as both decoration and insulation for elite residences. This piece depicts a scene from Ovid's Metamorphoses, a popular source for artists during the Renaissance. It presents the tragic tale of Cephalus and Procris, whose love is destroyed by jealousy. Made in the southern Netherlands, this tapestry reflects the region’s economic prosperity at the time. The intricate design and use of expensive materials, like silk, would have signaled the wealth and status of the patron who commissioned it. But beyond decoration, tapestries like these also functioned to educate and provide moral lessons for their owners and their guests. Analyzing tapestries like this involves archival research and a close examination of artistic influences. Such art objects connect us to the economic, social, and cultural contexts of the past.