Nymphs Finding the Head of Orpheus (1900), by J.W. WaterhouseOrpheus played the lyre (small harp) wi
Nymphs Finding the Head of Orpheus (1900), by J.W.WaterhouseOrpheus played the lyre (small harp) with such skilland passion that he inspired even animals, trees and rocks. However, when he tried to revive his belovedwife Eurydice from the underworld, the helpers of Dionysus got so tired of hismusic that they killed him and threw his head and lyre into the river. The story is symbolizing the purity of art ina wretched society.The two nymphs are the focal point of thispainting. Their pale flesh stands outagainst the dark colours in the background. Only when one follows their line of sight, the head of Orpheus revealsitself in the water, next to a small waterlily. This is a trick Waterhouse used to avoid too much drama. The painting was displayed on the Royal Academy andsold to Alexander Henderson in 1901. -- source link
#painting#symbolism#pre-raphaelite#orpheus#eurydice#waterlily#alexander henderson#underworld#dionysus