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Orpheus with His Lute (1926) Designs by Dugald Stewart Walker
Orpheus with His Lute is Hutchinson's adaptation of the Greek myth of Orpheus - including his legendary love of his wife, Eurydice.
The mythical figure of Orpheus has been identified with the Kingship of the Thracian Tribe of Cicones. Pindar - a literary figure from antiquity - has linked Orpheus with the journeys of Jason and the Argonauts and refers to him as "the father of songs". Tales of Orpheus from antiquity suggest that he was a wonderful poet and musician, with particularly strong links to the lyre, in addition to participating in religious ritual activities (including augury and astrology). His prodigious talent with the lyre is described in the following poem included as a Foreword to Orpheus with His Lute:
Orpheus with his lute made trees And the mountain-tops that freeze Bow themselves when he did sing: To his music plants and flowers Every sprung; as sun and showers There had made a lasting Spring.
Everything that heard him play, Even the billows of the sea, Hung their heads and then lay by. In sweet Music is such art, Killing care and grief of heart Fall asleep, or hearing, die.
The tale of Orpheus also includes the tragic story of his love for his wife, Eurydice, that compelled him - following her death - to travel to the Underworld and return to Earth with her, only to have her companionship snatched from him at the last by misfortune.
Walker's treatment of Hutchinson's adaptation of the Greek myth is replete with classical influences and fittingly - given the themes of the tale - the coloured Frontispiece that illustrated that portion of the tale focused on the love of Orpheus and Eurydice is sumptuously gilt with silver.
Our Greeting Cards and Reproduction Prints
When presented on Greeting Cards, these images are prepared as tipped-in plates - in homage to the hand-crafted approach typical of prestige illustrated publications produced in the early decades of the 20th Century.
Hand-finishing is used to replicate the visual appearance of a tipped-in plate and the images are presented on Ivory card stock (in the case of colour illustrations) or White card stock (in the case of monotone illustrations) with an accompanying envelope. We have left the cards blank so that you may write your own personal message.
Should you wish to order a Reproduction Print of one or more of these images, we have provided some options below. Of course, should you wish to discuss some customised options, we welcome your contact on any matter through ThePeople@SpiritoftheAges.com.
In the meantime, enjoy perusing these wonderful images from Dugald Walker.
The colour illustration
The major monotone illustrations
The monotone End Papers
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