Giulio Carpioni, 1611/13 Venedig – 1678 Vicenza, zug.
ORPHEUS AND EURYDIKE
Oil on canvas.
59 x 84 cm.
In gilded and plastically floral decorated frame.

In a way typical for Carpioni this painting expresses movement. The strong diagonal, which starts from the nymph Eurydice, is carried by the powers of the underworld, which are represented here as winged hell beings. Orpheus had already reached the Styx, via which he wanted to save Eurydice, who had died from a snake bite. In a careless moment, he turned away from the commandment, because he did not believe Eurydice was behind him. This moment in which he drops his instrument (actually the lyre, here a violin) and realises that Eurydice is now being pulled back into the underworld is impressively depicted here. Orpheus still tries to follow his beloved, but too late; Eurydice cannot be saved by his beguiling play on the lyre. (12117610) (4) (13)