Orpheus and the Beasts thumbnail 1
Orpheus and the Beasts thumbnail 2
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This object consists of 2 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Orpheus and the Beasts

Wall Panel
1630-1640 (painted)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
Many 17th-century houses were decorated with mural paintings, ranging in technique from colourful painted wood panels as here, to crude monochrome designs painted directly on to the plaster. Changes in fashion have meant that few houses now have such paintings visible, though there are undoubtedly more to be discovered under layers of paint or newer panelling.

Subjects Depicted
Orpheus, in Greek mythology, was the son of the god Apollo. He was able to charm the wild beasts with his music and by its magic power even move trees and rocks. This story was a favourite theme for poets, painters, printmakers and musicians in the 17th century. For example, the first successful opera, performed in Mantua in 1607, was Monteverdi's Orfeo. The anonymous artist here has copied closely his composition from a print in a natural history book, the frontispiece to A Book of Beasts, published anonymously in 1630 by Thomas Johnson. Book illustrations and other prints were frequently used as image sources for embroidery and tapestry weaving, which decorated rooms and furniture.

Text
The inscription reads:

Such Heavenly power in musick rests
It calmes and tames the savage beasts
Whilst Orpheus playes
Each beast obeyes.

Object details

Category
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Oil Paintings
  • Frames (Furnishings)
TitleOrpheus and the Beasts
Materials and techniques
tempera on panel
Brief description
WALL PANEL Orpheus charming the Beasts with his Lyre
Physical description
Wall panel with a roundel depicting Orpheus charming the beasts with his lyre. The design is based on the frontispiece to A Book of Beasts by Thomas Johnson.
Dimensions
  • Unframed height: 46cm
  • Unframed width: 56.7cm
  • Unframed depth: 0.7cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 23/04/1999 by N.Costaras
Style
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
The painter of this panel based the painting on a print published in 1630 (see photograph, right).The artist left out some of the smaller creatures in the foreground of the original print, such as the snake, rabbits, cat and dog. This panel is probably only a small fragment of a larger scheme, intended to decorate a room.
Credit line
Given by Lady Sackville
Object history
Given by Lady Sackville, 1923
Painted in England by an unidentified artist (active 1630-1640); the design based on the frontispiece to 'A Book of Beasts', published by Thomas Johnson
Production
Design based on the frontispiece to 'A Book of Beasts', published by Thomas Johnson
Summary
Object Type
Many 17th-century houses were decorated with mural paintings, ranging in technique from colourful painted wood panels as here, to crude monochrome designs painted directly on to the plaster. Changes in fashion have meant that few houses now have such paintings visible, though there are undoubtedly more to be discovered under layers of paint or newer panelling.

Subjects Depicted
Orpheus, in Greek mythology, was the son of the god Apollo. He was able to charm the wild beasts with his music and by its magic power even move trees and rocks. This story was a favourite theme for poets, painters, printmakers and musicians in the 17th century. For example, the first successful opera, performed in Mantua in 1607, was Monteverdi's Orfeo. The anonymous artist here has copied closely his composition from a print in a natural history book, the frontispiece to A Book of Beasts, published anonymously in 1630 by Thomas Johnson. Book illustrations and other prints were frequently used as image sources for embroidery and tapestry weaving, which decorated rooms and furniture.

Text
The inscription reads:

Such Heavenly power in musick rests
It calmes and tames the savage beasts
Whilst Orpheus playes
Each beast obeyes.
Collection
Accession number
W.156&:1-1923

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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