Orpheus Charming Animals. Dutch School Around 1650

17th century period Oil on oak panel Presented in a sober molded and blackened wooden frame Total dimensions: 60 x 80 cm. The panel: 42 x 62.5 cm Our painting represents Orpheus with a musical instrument, the lyre that he received from Apollo. With his song and his music, he charmed the gods and mortals, and tamed animals, and even wild beasts... Orpheus charming animals is a frequent theme in Western art during the 16th and 17th centuries. The painter shows us here a large landscape with beautiful, profuse nature. In the center a clearing with all kinds of animals, both domestic and wild like this elephant or this lion. The scene depicted gives off an impression of peace and harmony: the animals are not afraid of each other and are under the spell of the music of the great legendary poet of Greece, inspired by the muses and by Apollo. Orpheus, dressed in an antique costume, is installed under a large tree, as if for a concert. On the right, the seven Bacchae form a round and seem derived from the group painted on the painting “The Chariot of Apollo” executed by Guido Reni in 1613. The animals for their part recall those from scenes from “Paradise” by the Flemish painter Roelant Savery. For the moment, we have not been able to link our painting to a specific painter, but it is surely from the Netherlands having undergone a double influence both Flemish and Italian. Beautiful state of conservation. Sold with invoice & certificate