About this artwork
Louis Hersent was best known for his portrayals of the upper class, as well as occasional Classical subjects. While later states of this print include the title Ruben and Bala, referring to the Old Testament figure Ruben’s seduction of his father’s significantly older concubine, the scene is more mythological than biblical. The lyre suggests that the lithograph should be interpreted as an image of the young love of Orpheus, son of Apollo, and his muse, Eurydice, whose affectionate playfulness keeps him from practicing his music. Later, refusing to accept Eurydice’s tragic death, he played in vain for her soul to be released from Hades.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Prints and Drawings
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Artist
- Louis Hersent
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Title
- Orpheus and Eurydice
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Place
- France (Artist's nationality:)
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Date
- 1800–1830
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Medium
- Lithograph on cream wove paper
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Dimensions
- Image: 22.5 × 18.2 cm (8 7/8 × 7 3/16 in.); Sheet: 31.5 × 25.7 cm (12 7/16 × 10 1/8 in.)
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Credit Line
- John H. Wrenn Memorial Collection
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Reference Number
- 1940.1208
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/39998/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
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