Orpheus and Eurydice
The Met
Artist: Nicolas Poussin(French, third quarter 17th century)
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 47 1/2 x 70 3/4 in. (120.7 x 179.7 cm)
Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
A landscape with numerous figures in the foreground and a city burning in the distance
Detailed Description
A wide landscape shows numerous figures in the foreground and a burning city in the distance. The lower half of the scene is dominated by dark green and brown foliage, forming a wooded area with rolling hills. In the immediate foreground, a small stream or body of water flows from the left towards the center. On the left bank of this water, three figures are grouped: two reclining and one seated, with one figure draped in blue fabric. To their right, in the central mid-ground, a standing figure in red drapery plays a lyre, facing right. Another standing figure in grey drapery stands beside them, pointing towards the right. A third figure in blue drapery sits nearby, looking towards the lyre player. Further to the right, several figures are scattered across the grassy terrain; some kneel, some stand, and some have raised arms. In the background, a large city is visible, with one prominent building engulfed in bright orange and red flames, emitting a thick, dark plume of smoke that rises into the overcast sky. The sky transitions from a lighter, hazy blue-grey on the left horizon to darker grey clouds above the burning city. Green and brown trees frame the scene on both the left and right sides, and cover the distant hills.
Generated by gemini-2.5-flash
