Mythical Representations in Art
Below is a timeline of art depicting the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, ranging from some of the earliest pieces at the top of the gallery to the more recent depictions at the bottom of the gallery.
As you can see, the artworks' styles differ greatly, reflecting the time periods in which they were created. I have included this gallery to show you how the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice has been interpreted through art over the centuries, as well as the similarities and differences between how each of the myth's characters have been portrayed.
Click on an image to see its full version and scroll to the bottom of the page to read further.
As you can see, the artworks' styles differ greatly, reflecting the time periods in which they were created. I have included this gallery to show you how the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice has been interpreted through art over the centuries, as well as the similarities and differences between how each of the myth's characters have been portrayed.
Click on an image to see its full version and scroll to the bottom of the page to read further.
The most common scene portrayed amongst artistic representations is when Orpheus is leading Eurydice away from the Underworld, unable to look at her, and that fatal moment when he does turn, causing his beloved wife to die again. I believe such emphasis is placed on this particular event in the myth because of its tragic consequences. Eurydice's tragic final death has such an impact on readers of the myth that it is the perfect scene to portray visually, allowing the artist to capture the emotion of the figures and the intensity of the moment through their paintings or sculptures.
The way figures are depicted display similarities among the artworks shown here, as well as in various other artistic interpretations of the myth. For example, Eurydice is almost always depicted only partly clothed (and what clothes she does possess are flowing and very feminine), making her appear vulnerable and wanting to be saved. This could also represent how she was known for her beauty (which is emphasised in the myths about her.) Similarly, Orpheus is often portrayed as being young and muscular, even though his exact age or physical appearance is not mentioned in Ancient myth. The purpose of such depictions could be to present Orpheus as being a kind of hero in the myth (however not really a 'hero' in the Greek sense), as he bravely enters the Underworld and confronts the Ruler of the Dead, risking his own life, to save his beloved wife. Orpheus is also always portrayed carrying an instrument of some sort (typically his trademark lyre, however, occasionally a similar instrument like a violin, as in two of the artworks above.) This allows the viewer to easily identify the character and thus understand which myth the artist is interpreting.
The style of painting or sculptural pieces used to represent Classical myth has changed dramatically over time. The most obvious example of this would be to look at the oldest piece, a mosaic of Orpheus created in A.D. 194, and the most recent abstract representation of Orpheus and Eurydice from 2011. Although the styles have changed however, the fact that the myth has been represented in art for so many thousands of years and continues to today, indicates its significance and obvious impact, not only on the Classical world, but on readers today.
The way figures are depicted display similarities among the artworks shown here, as well as in various other artistic interpretations of the myth. For example, Eurydice is almost always depicted only partly clothed (and what clothes she does possess are flowing and very feminine), making her appear vulnerable and wanting to be saved. This could also represent how she was known for her beauty (which is emphasised in the myths about her.) Similarly, Orpheus is often portrayed as being young and muscular, even though his exact age or physical appearance is not mentioned in Ancient myth. The purpose of such depictions could be to present Orpheus as being a kind of hero in the myth (however not really a 'hero' in the Greek sense), as he bravely enters the Underworld and confronts the Ruler of the Dead, risking his own life, to save his beloved wife. Orpheus is also always portrayed carrying an instrument of some sort (typically his trademark lyre, however, occasionally a similar instrument like a violin, as in two of the artworks above.) This allows the viewer to easily identify the character and thus understand which myth the artist is interpreting.
The style of painting or sculptural pieces used to represent Classical myth has changed dramatically over time. The most obvious example of this would be to look at the oldest piece, a mosaic of Orpheus created in A.D. 194, and the most recent abstract representation of Orpheus and Eurydice from 2011. Although the styles have changed however, the fact that the myth has been represented in art for so many thousands of years and continues to today, indicates its significance and obvious impact, not only on the Classical world, but on readers today.