'Orpheus and Eurydice' ("But give me - the mouth, the eyes, the brows")

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Painting details

Title: 'Orpheus and Eurydice' ("But give me - the mouth, the eyes, the brows")
Date: c.1864
Media: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 169.0 x 150.0 cm
Location: Leighton House Museum
Picture credit: Leighton House Museum, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Interpretation

Orpheus had a magic lyre, which he used to charm animals, rivers and trees even stones, which gather around him and dance. Orpheus was in love with Eurydice, a wood nymph. At their wedding, as Eurydice ran from an admirer, Aristaeus, she accidentally trod on a snake, which poisoned and killed her. Orpheus followed her to Hades (Hell) and persuaded Persephone to allow Eurydice to leave with him, on condition that he did not look back until they arrived back on the earth. The painting shows Eurydice begging Orpheus to look back at her, whilst he struggles to resist.

Provenance

Collection of Alfred Brooks; sold by Brooks through Christie's (auctioneers) on 17 May 1879 (lot 103); purchased by Sully; collection of Frances Reckitt; collection of Terrence Rowe; collection of Jerry Norman; purchased for Leighton House Museum in 1960

Bibliography

• Jones, Stephen et al., 'Frederic Leighton', Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1996, p.26,29 figure 14. Ormond, Leon+e and Richard, 'Lord Leighton', Yale University Press, London, 1975, p.67, p.77, p.86, p.89, p.123, p.155, catalogue number 102, plate 101
• Robbins, Daniel and Suleman, Reena, 'Leighton House Museum: Holland Park Road, Kensington', The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, 2005, p.69 fig.99 (detail), p.88 fig.129