The Spring – Eurydice bitten by a serpent while picking flowers 1856 - 1863

Eugène Delacroix painted this mythological scene, depicting Eurydice's tragic demise, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The image shows Orpheus reaching out to aid his wife, Eurydice, as she collapses, having been bitten by a serpent. The dramatic composition and painterly style are typical of French Romanticism, but what does it tell us about the society in which it was made? Consider the status of mythology itself. The revival of classical themes in the 19th century was more than a matter of aesthetic preference. It also signaled an aspiration to a higher cultural authority, an attempt by artists to claim a place within a historical lineage of artistic excellence. Thinkers promoted the idea that modern societies could find models for political and social life in the ancient world. To understand such references fully, we can turn to various sources such as philosophical texts, literature, and political debates of the time. By looking at these and other factors, we can gain a richer understanding of the complex interplay between art, culture, and society.