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We’ll have reduced opening hours from Thursday 18 until Saturday 20 August, due to strike action affecting UK transport networks. The galleries, Reading Room and café will close at 17:00 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The library will close at 17:00 on Thursday and Friday, and at 16:00 as usual on Saturday. Please check our opening times for more information.

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<p>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</p>
<p>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</p>

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

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.

1 print : etching with tone, printed in sanguine ; platemark 22.2 x 21.5 cm

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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.

The prodigal son returns and is greeted by his father. Etching by V. Vangelisti after G.F. Barbieri, il Guercino.

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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.

The prodigal son returns and is greeted by his father. Etching by V. Vangelisti after G.F. Barbieri, il Guercino.

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Wellcome collectionWellcome Collection

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Wellcome collection