Genre: Information/Explanation

Orpheus Gustave Moreau drew much attention when he painted Orpheus in 1865 . The intriguing composition regards the famous Greek legend of Orpheus , a poet and musician so talented that he was believed to be able to charm beasts into submission . Moreau , known for his wild imagination , created a unique ending to the myth , and depicted it on canvas . The story goes that when Orpheus charmed the maenads , ( seductive female followers of the god of wine ) , and then refused their advances , they tore him apart and threw his head and lyre into a nearby stream . While most artists chose to paint the horrific events of the raging women murdering Orpheus , Gustave Moreau opted to depict his personal idea of what happened after the tragic slaying . He includes a young girl dressed in delicate oriental garments who , after having salvaged Orpheuss decapitated head and lyre from the stream , lovingly stares at it with a sad facial expression that could signify regret or pity . The similarity of the two faces not only captivates viewers with its eeriness , but it also has them questioning the artists intention . This likeness may be symbolic in nature , but Moreau offers no explanation and leaves its interpretation to the onlookers imagination . The paintings sombre background is meticulously detailed , and harmonizes with the mystical mood of the painting . The composition is diagonally in sync ; the musicians at the top left of the canvas are balanced by the two turtles at the bottom right . Analysis With respect to Gustave Moreaus style , the Musee dOrsays website states : In Orpheus , we sense the emergence of a semi-fantastic world with disturbing atmospheres , impregnated with ambiguous charms . The golden chiaroscuro , complex composition and sensual yet mystic mood that characterised Moreau's mature style about 1870 are already in place here . For all these reasons , Moreau counts as a decisive figure in the Symbolist movement . Musee dOrsay