Orpheus Charming the Animals in a Landscape by Sinibaldo Scorza

Orpheus Charming the Animals in a Landscape 1621

sinibaldoscorza

toned paper

ink painting

pencil sketch

etching

fluid art

ink drawing experimentation

coffee painting

watercolour illustration

pencil art

watercolor

This 1621 etching by Italian artist Sinibaldo Scorza, titled *Orpheus Charming the Animals in a Landscape,* depicts the legendary musician Orpheus using his music to charm a wide variety of animals, from a lion to a rhinoceros, to a group of birds in a tree. The artist, known for his detailed drawings, uses a precise style to showcase the diverse animal kingdom in a peaceful landscape, creating a harmonious scene of nature. The artwork also has visual elements from the mythological story of Orpheus and Eurydice, with a female figure (likely Eurydice) visible in the background.

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rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

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Biblical and mythological stories afforded artists the possibility of incorporating a host of animals in a single composition. In this drawing Sinibaldo Scorza depicted a scene from the story of Orpheus described by the ancient Roman poet Ovid. In it, Orpheus charms all living things with his wonderful singing and lyre playing. The artist filled the sheet from top to bottom with animals from all corners of the world – dromedary can even be spotted in the distance.