What does Orpheus depict?

The painting shows the Greek mythological figure Orpheus charming wild animals with his music. Lions, a crocodile, and a flamingo gather peacefully around him.

Who was Franz von Stuck?

Von Stuck (1863-1928) was a German Symbolist painter and co-founder of the Munich Secession. His students included Kandinsky, Klee, and Albers.

Where can I see versions of this painting?

One version is held in a private collection. Another is preserved on the east wall of the Hall of Music at Villa Stuck in Munich, Germany.

Where Is Orpheus? See It at Private Collection

Franz von Stuck composed this Orpheus in 1891, depicting the legendary Greek musician whose song could charm all living things. The composition shows Orpheus surrounded by wild animals including lions, a crocodile, and a flamingo, creatures typically perceived as dangerous but here calmed by the power of music. Von Stuck's use of color, light, and composition heightens the mythological drama.

Von Stuck (1863-1928) was a German Symbolist painter, sculptor, and architect who co-founded the Munich Secession. His work often combined classical themes with a sensuous and sometimes eerie aesthetic. The Orpheus myth resonated with the high regard of his era for music's power to affect the human soul. A version of this painting is preserved on the east wall of the Hall of Music at Villa Stuck in Munich.

Von Stuck was also an influential teacher whose students included Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, and Josef Albers. His paintings range from Nordic pagan legends to Greco-Roman mythology, the latter often shown in a serene style against neo-Byzantine gold backgrounds. This version of Orpheus is held in a private collection and measures among his works exploring the Art Nouveau aesthetic.