_Albani Villa, Rome_]
Our bas-relief represents a scene of parting between Orpheus and
Eurydice, and we may take it, as we please, to refer to their first or
to their last farewell. It seems, however, to apply more appropriately
to the first departure of Eurydice to the unknown land. She lays her
hand fondly upon her husband's shoulder, and he touches it gently as if
to detain her.
The figure on the other side is the messenger god Hermes, whose mission
is to conduct departing spirits to the other world.[33] He has come for
Eurydice, and he takes her by the hand to draw her away. For a moment
husband and wife gaze into each other's eyes with love and sorrow, while
the messenger waits with exquisite courtesy.
[33] See page 61.
Though the Greeks had many tales of sorrow in their poetry and
mythology, they did not often illustrate them in their art. The subjects
of their sculpture are nearly always happy ones. Even here, you see,
grief is made so beautiful and dignified that we forget to feel sad
about the parting. We think most of the love and devotion between
Orpheus and Eurydice.
The simple story of the bas-relief touches us more readily perhaps than
the grand statues of the gods. People like in art something which
corresponds to the common human lives of all.
The garment worn by Eurydice seems quite like that of the goddess
Demeter. The drapery is very full in front, falling in long straight
folds. At the side it is scantier and shows the motion of the figure in
walking. The short tunic worn by the other figures is a picturesque
costume, and the mantle swinging over one shoulder is very graceful.
When one contrasts with these classical draperies the stiff dress of
modern times, one wonders that the sculptor of to-day does not throw
down his chisel in despair.
The style of the draperies often enables a critic to decide in what
period a work of art was produced. In the best art the folds are always
simple: it is a sure sign of declining art when the folds are
complicated and broken. Here we see the few simple, severe lines which
mark the purest classical taste.