Who painted Orpheus bezaubert die Tiere?

Orpheus bezaubert die Tiere was painted by Adriaen de Grijef in 1702.

Where can I see Orpheus bezaubert die Tiere?

Orpheus bezaubert die Tiere is held by Bavarian State Painting Collections.

What movement is Orpheus bezaubert die Tiere?

Orpheus bezaubert die Tiere is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Orpheus bezaubert die Tiere

Adriaen de Grijef , 1702

Orpheus bezaubert die Tiere is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Adriaen de Grijef. It dates from 1702 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1702, this oil on canvas by Dutch painter Adriaen de Grijef presents a tranquil woodland tableau. A solitary figure, identified as the mythic musician Orpheus, stands near a tree while a variety of forest creatures—birds, deer, goats and a prominently displayed peacock—populate the surrounding foliage. The work is part of the collection of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek.

Subject & Meaning

The composition draws on the legend of Orpheus, whose music was said to charm all living things. Here the painter visualizes that power by arranging a diverse assembly of animals that appear untroubled and attentive, suggesting the harmonious influence of the hero’s song over nature.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil, the painting employs a balanced palette of verdant greens, earthy browns and occasional bright accents, such as the peacock’s iridescent plumage. De Grijef’s brushwork renders the textures of fur and feather with a gentle realism, while the overall lighting creates a calm, diffused atmosphere typical of early‑18th‑century Dutch landscape painting.

History & Provenance

The work was produced in the early 1700s and later entered the holdings of the Alte Pinakothek, one of Germany’s foremost art museums. Its accession reflects the museum’s broader effort to assemble representative examples of Northern European baroque painting.

Context

During the period, mythological subjects were frequently employed to demonstrate an artist’s skill in rendering both human figures and animal life. De Grijef, known for his animal scenes, combined narrative content with his specialty in depicting fauna, aligning the piece with contemporary tastes for allegorical landscapes that celebrated the unity of art and nature.