In Orpheus and the Animals (1650), Paulus Potter brings the mythic musician to life amid a menagerie of creatures, lions, camels, elephants, even a unicorn, all drawn into harmony by his harp. This 17th-century Dutch masterpiece, housed in the Rijksmuseum, invites viewers into a tranquil realm where music tames the wild. Through the Slow Art lens, each animal’s attentive gaze and poised stillness unfold gradually, offering a meditative exploration of nature’s response to art’s gentle power.
This work can be seen at [The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam,https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/Orpheus-and-the-Animals--b1840cea974838391bcea8dc9e65cf0a]
Duration:
00:03:07
Tags:
paulus, potter, orpheus, charming, animals, paulus potter, potter, orpheus charming the animals, old master, old masters, 17th century, painting, rijksmuseum, amsterdam, netherlands, dutch, dutch art, dutch artist, animal art, animals, animal, animal paintings, historical, art history, classical