Artwork
Orpheus and the Animals
Orpheus and the Animals is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Roelant Savery. It dates from 1617 and is held in the collection of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp.
About this work
Overview
Orpheus and the Animals is a 1617 oil painting by Roelant Savery, a Flemish artist active during the Dutch Golden Age. The work is now part of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the mythological figure Orpheus surrounded by a diverse array of animals in a lush forest scene. The scene is characterized by a dense population of creatures, including deer, wild boar, birds, and swans, set against a cloudy yet bright sky.
Technique & Style
Savery's use of oil paint brings the forest to life with earthy tones, including greens, browns, and soft blues. The artist's composition is dense, with some animals subtly integrated into the trees while others are more prominently featured near the winding river.
Artist & collection
Artist
Roelant Savery (or Roeland(t) Maertensz Saverij, or de Savery, or many variants; 1576 – buried 25 February 1639) was a Flanders-born Dutch Golden Age painter.
