Orpheus and Eurydice by Pierre Paul Rubens

A poignant episode from the ancient poetic repertoire, this dramatic canvas depicts the critical moment when love defies the laws of the underworld. The artist Pierre Paul Rubens portrays in “Orphée et Eurydice” the perilous ascent of the poet guiding his wife out of Hades. This composition asserts itself through its dark atmosphere and the psychological tension inhabiting the two lovers.:::::On the left, the poet Orpheus walks at a hasty pace, holding his golden lyre in his left hand while turning back toward his wife. Eurydice stands behind him, her body of dazzling whiteness wrapped in a white sheet she holds against her chest. To the right of the scene, Pluto and Proserpina sit upon their dark thrones surrounded by shadowy veils and infernal glows. The god of the underworld holds his scepter while watching the couple move away toward the light of life. At the feet of the infernal rulers, the multi-headed hound Cerberus sleeps in the shadows of the foreground. The glowing light of the underworld hearth illuminates Orpheus’s back and contrasts with Eurydice’s paleness.:::::Pierre Paul Rubens demonstrates masterful command of dramatic chiaroscuro and anatomical modeling of bodies. His skilled use of oil glazes bestows poignant emotion as well as striking realism upon this eternal myth.