Deprecated: File Theme without header.php is deprecated since version 3.0.0 with no alternative available. Please include a header.php template in your theme. in /home/art30/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114
Orpheus and Eurydice (c.1508) by Titian – 30 Art Orpheus and Eurydice (c.1508) by Titian – 30 Art

Orpheus and Eurydice (c.1508) by Titian

Orpheus and Eurydice - Titian - c.1508

Artwork Information

TitleOrpheus and Eurydice
ArtistTitian
Datec.1508
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions39 x 53 cm
Art MovementHigh Renaissance
Current LocationAccademia Carrara, Bergamo, Italy

About Orpheus and Eurydice

The artwork “Orpheus and Eurydice” by Titian, created circa 1508, stands as an exceptional example of mythological painting from the High Renaissance period. Executed in oil on canvas, it measures modestly at 39 by 53 centimeters. This poignant piece can be found within the esteemed collection of the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo, Italy.

In this evocative composition, Titian depicts the tragic moment from the ancient myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with profound sensitivity. The central figures of Orpheus and Eurydice are positioned in an environment that offers a striking contrast between the earthly realm and the suggestion of the underworld. Eurydice, stricken and slumped upon the ground, appears to succumb to the fatal snake bite on her heel, an event which precedes the renowned narrative of Orpheus’ descent into Hades to reclaim her. Orpheus is portrayed with an expression of despair, his figure turned towards Eurydice in a mix of helplessness and grief.

The landscape lends a melancholic atmosphere to the scene, employing subdued tones and a careful play of light and shadow to evoke an air of impending doom and sorrow. Titian’s masterful brushstrokes create a scene teeming with emotional depth, capturing the poignant and ill-fated love of the titular characters against a dusky and foreboding backdrop. Far in the distance, one can discern faint architectural elements and a bridge, perhaps symbolically representing the transition between life and death, and the journey that Orpheus will soon undertake.

The artwork, while small in size, is monumental in its emotional impact, encapsulating the essence of High Renaissance art through its fusion of classical mythology, human sentiment, and atmospheric landscape.


Deprecated: File Theme without footer.php is deprecated since version 3.0.0 with no alternative available. Please include a footer.php template in your theme. in /home/art30/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114