Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot’s painting, “Orpheus Leading Eurydice from the Underworld,” created in 1861, is an oil on canvas artwork that depicts the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The painting, which measures 44 3/8 × 54 × 3/4 inches, is a product of the Romanticism art movement.
The painting shows Orpheus, a legendary musician and poet from Greek mythology who went into the underworld to retrieve his wife Eurydice. He manages to convince Hades, the ruler of the underworld, to let him take her back to life with him until he looks back before they have left hell. Corot captures this delicate moment perfectly in his work.
Corot was an Impressionist artist specializing in landscape paintings but ventured into classical themes like this one. A student of neoclassical master Jean-Victor Bertin and a pupil at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris led him to create works like this painting.
Currently on display at the Museum of Fine Arts located in Houston where it serves as one of their representative pieces within their collection. But for those who cannot visit it in person can also purchase prints online to experience its beauty through photographs or reproductions that capture all its incredible detail and texture.
