Orpheus betovert Cerberus
Medium
engraving
Dimensions
62; 90
About this artwork
gravure
Art Historical Context
**Orpheus betovertberus** (Orpheus Enchanting Cerberus), a delicate engraving by Agostino Veneziano from 1528, captures timeless moment from Greek mythology. The Italian artist, active in Venice and Rome during the High, depicts the legendary musician Orpheus using his lyre to soothe Cerberus, the fearsome three-headed guardian dog of the Underworld. This scene draws from classical tales where Orpheus's art triumphs over even the fiercest beasts, symbolizing the transformative power of music and harmony—a theme that resonated deeply in Renaissance humanism. Measuring just 90mm in height, this...
About the Artist
Agostino Veneziano
Agostino Veneziano, born Agostino de' Musi around 1490 in Venice, received his initial artistic training there, though his primary teacher remains unknown. He began as a pupil of Giulio Campagnola, copying prints by Albrecht Dürer and Campagnola himself from about 1512–14, before producing original works in a similar vein. By around 1515, after brief stints in Florence, he settled in Rome and join...