Orpheus, Eurydice and Aristaeus

Ask anything

• Spencer Farrell asked

  why did he paint this

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Hello Spencer,
  Good question! This particular painting was part of a so-called 'cassone.' A cassone is a type of large, elaborately decorated chest that was popular from the Late Middle Ages onwards. It would be given to the bride during a wedding and was the bride's parents' contribution. Typically made of wood and adorned with paintings, carvings, or inlays, these chests were used for storing textiles or valuables. Cassoni served both practical and decorative purposes, reflecting the status and wealth of the families that owned them. The famous love story of Orpheus and Eurydice is a fitting mythological tale to depict on this type of chest at a time when classical mythology became popular once again.
  Kind regards,
  Manus

• salome asked

  hello, i was wondering why the trees are painted as cut down, is there a reason for this or was it solely to create a clearer composition? thanks!

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Salome, unfortunately we don't know anything about the motivations of the anonymous artist who painted this scene more than 500 years ago. As you already notice, telling the story about Orpheus and Euridice in a clear way must have been more important than copying a natural scene. The artist invented the landscape in the studio, and took care that there are no branches blocking our view. I hope this is helpful, kind regards, Els

• robin asked

  Hello,
  my question was what is the value of this painting? in terms of the formal analysis.

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Robin, the formal analysis is closely related to the composition that you must have described earlier. You need to talk about the painting in terms of shapes, lines and colors instead of focusing directly on the image and the storytelling. Good luck and kind regards, Els

• robin asked

  Hello, my questions was, what is the composition of this painting?

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Robin, Thank you for your question. To know the composition of this painting, you need to describe what you see in your own words, preferably with a focus on the abstract quality of the image. So you start about the rectangular imagegin a horizontal format on which, from left to right, a certain amount of human figures are placed against the background of a landscape. Etcetera. Good luck and kind regards, Els

• Alex asked

  what are the creatures that are carrying the body into the cave on the far right of the painting?

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Alex, Thank you for your question. In the accompanying text you can read that it concerns two demons. These are depicted as figures with the legs of birds and horns on their heads. I hope this answers your question. Kind Regards, Sofie

• Marnix Eyckmans asked

  What is the style of the painting? Orpheus, Eyridice en Aristaius van Jacopo del Sellaio

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Hi Marnix, The work is part of the Florentine Renaissance. Jacopo del Sellaio, like Botticelli, was a pupil of Fra Filippo Lippi. I hope this answers your question Kind regards, Sofie

• Emily E Bryant asked

  What medium is being used in this painting?

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Emily,
  I'm not sure if this is what you meant, but it is made with Oil on panel. You can find this information underneath the painting by clicking the 'show all details' button. Let me know if you meant something else! Kind regards, Sofie

• Timmy asked

  Hi! I would like to know more about tapestry of the painting is it just oil on wood or is there more to it?

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Dear Timmy, Thank you for your question. Originally the panel on which the image is painted was the front of a 'cassone', a chest in which clothing and linen were kept. These chests were often given in pairs at weddings, which explains the painting's a romantic image of love reaching beyond death. I hope this is helpful. All best, Els

• Ashley asked

  Hello! I'm trying to settle a debate here with my dad. To the right, is that a river, preferably the river Orpheus traveled on saving the Argonauts from the siren's music? Also, are those sirens (serpents) in that body of water?

• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen answered

  Hi Ashley, this sounds like a fun debate! Unfortunately this is not the river that Orpheus traveled to save the Argonauts. There are also no serpents in the water, but there is one, below in the middle of the painting. Eurydice is being bitten by the snake there. Hopefully you won the debate! Greetings, Sarie.