ORPHEUS AND EURIDICE, nd
Watercolour and pencil. 11½ x 9¾in. (29.9 x 24.8cm.)
Titled on the reverse.
Provenance
National Trust bequest.
Orpheus was the son of Apollo and Calliope. He was a famed poet, singer and musician on the lyre. He fell in love with a nymph, Euridice, who was bitten by a snake and died. He descended into Hades in search of her. Persephone allowed him to return to the Outerworld with Euridice, on the condition he did not look back to check that she was still behind him. However, he did look back and Euridice was returned to Hades. Ultimately, Orpheus was torn to pieces and was eventually buried on Lesbos.