The suicides of Pyramus and Thisbe: Thisbe and Pyramus lying dead in front of Ninus' tomb, having stabbed themselves with the sword next to them. Line engraving by V. Vangelisti after G. Reni.

Ovid. Metamorphoses IV.55-166. Thisbe was a Babylonian maiden beloved by Piramus. They lived in contiguous houses, and as their parents would not let them marry, they contrived to converse together through a hole in the garden wall. On one occasion, they agreed to meet at the tomb of King Ninus, and Thisbe, who was first at the spot, hearing a lion roar, ran away in fright, dropping her garment on the way. The lion seized the garment and tore it. When Piramus arrived and saw the garment, he concluded that a lion had killed Thisbe and killed himself. Thisbe returning to the tomb, saw Piramus dead, and killed herself also. This story is enacted in the "Midsummer night's dream" by Shakespeare. Ninus was the legendary king of Assyria

As indicated by the lettering, the literary source may be the poem 'Les filles de Minée' by Jean de La Fontaine, Livre XII - Fable 28

Paris (Rue de Thionville No. 1745, maison de l'epicier, vis-a-vis la Rue Contrescarpe) : Delargette-Vangellisty

1 print : line engraving, with etching ; image 34 x 49.5 cm

Pyrame et Thisbé. Elle tombe, et tomban range ses vêtements-dernier trait de pudeur même aux derniers momens. La Fontaine, Fille de Minée. Vangellisty sc. Guido Reni p.

The engraver of this print, Vicenzo Vangelisti, followed the example of Pyramus and Thisbe by killing himself

Wellcome Collection 42992i