La Vera Perfettione del Disegno di varie sorti di recami, page 24 (recto) 1567

This woodcut by Giovanni Ostaus from 1567 depicts the tragic tale of Pyramus and Thisbe. The scene shows Thisbe standing by a fountain, her dress billowing in the wind, as Pyramus lies dying on the ground. Thisbe's desperate gesture and the inscription "Chi non puo amor, se puo far ci' altra forte" ("Who cannot love, can do this other thing") capture the tragic nature of their love story. The work is characteristic of Ostaus's delicate and intricate style and provides a glimpse into Renaissance interpretations of ancient mythology.