This painting of Rubens depicts the macabre banquet offered by Prokne and Philomela as revenge on Tereus. The two women present the head of Itys to Tereus as yet anoter plate of the banquet. As he sees that his dismembered son, whom he has already eaten, was among the dishes in front of him, he gestures and kicks the table, tossing all the dishes. The royal throne room serves as the setting for this scene.

This painting is the cruelest and most violent mythological scene painted by Rubens. The expressions and movements of the figures give a sense of violence and drama. It was commissioned by King Philip IV of Spain to decorate the hunting lodge of the Spanish royal family, Torre de la Parada, along with other paintings with mythological topics (60 works by Rubens in total).