Roelandt Savery – Orpheus Part 6 National Gallery UK

The composition presents a lush, densely populated landscape dominated by verdant foliage and a profusion of animal life. A central figure, draped in flowing robes, sits upon a stone ledge, his gaze directed towards the middle ground. He holds a stringed instrument, its strings taut, suggesting an imminent or ongoing performance.
The artist has arranged the fauna with meticulous detail, creating a veritable menagerie. Lions and bears appear calmly alongside deer and fowl, demonstrating a seemingly harmonious coexistence. A variety of birds populate both the sky and the foreground, their plumage rendered in vibrant hues. The inclusion of exotic species – a parrot perched on a rock formation to the right, for example – hints at an imagined paradise or a realm beyond the familiar.
A cascade of water flows down from a rocky outcrop, feeding into a stream that winds its way through the scene towards a distant architectural structure. This building, partially obscured by distance and foliage, appears classical in style, suggesting civilization or perhaps a lost world. The sky is filled with birds in flight, adding to the sense of expansive space and boundless nature.
The subtexts within this work are layered. The presence of wild animals existing peacefully alongside a human figure suggests an idealized state of innocence and harmony – a return to a primordial Edenic condition. The musician’s posture and instrument imply the power of music to soothe, charm, or even control the natural world. His gaze towards the distant structure might indicate longing for something beyond his immediate surroundings, perhaps a lost civilization or a spiritual ideal.
The overall effect is one of abundance and tranquility, but also carries an undercurrent of melancholy – a sense that this idyllic scene is fragile or unattainable. The careful arrangement of elements suggests a deliberate construction of meaning, inviting contemplation on themes of nature, music, civilization, and the human condition.