Orpheus in the Underworld
1594
Jan Brueghel the Elder packed a mythological nightmare into this chaotic scene, depicting the moment Orpheus descends into Hell to retrieve his wife. Dressed in bright blue and pink, the hero stands before the rulers of the Underworld, Pluto and Proserpina, pleading his case with music rather than swords. It’s a stark contrast to the rest of the painting, which is a fever dream of fire, torture, and bizarre demons swimming in a dark river. Brueghel, nicknamed 'Velvet Brueghel' for his incredibly smooth and detailed touch, filled every inch of this underworld with tiny, suffering figures, proving that even in the depths of Hell, there’s plenty of activity to observe.
- Technique
- Oil on copper
Location: Louvre Museum, Paris
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