Procris geeft Cephalus een jachthond en een speer 1628 - 1682

This print by Jean Lepautre depicts Procris gifting Cephalus a hunting dog and a spear. Note the dog, a symbol of fidelity and vigilance since antiquity. We can see the dog motif recurring, for example, in medieval tomb sculptures, where a dog at the feet of the deceased knight signified loyalty, guarding his master even in death. Yet, consider how the meaning shifts. In Renaissance paintings, dogs often appear in domestic settings, representing marital faithfulness and guardianship of the home. Here, in Lepautre’s mythological scene, the dog takes on a new layer of complexity. It is not merely a symbol of loyalty, but an active participant in the narrative of the hunt, entwined with Cephalus’ destiny. Such a recurring symbol reveals how collective memory shapes our understanding. These images tap into subconscious associations, evoking feelings of devotion. It is this cyclical progression of symbols that engages us, the viewers, across time.