Among the other bas-reliefs which show that influence
there is no difficulty in choosing one of exceptional
beauty, the so-called Orpheus relief. This is known to
us in three copies, unless indeed the Naples example be
the original. The story here set forth is one of the
most touching in Greek mythology. Orpheus, the Thracian
singer, has descended into Hades in quest of his dead
wife, Eurydice, and has so charmed by his music the
stern Persephone that she has suffered him to lead back
his wife to the upper air, provided only he will not
look upon her on the way. But love has overcome him. He
has turned and looked, and the doom of an irrevocable
parting is sealed. In no unseemly paroxysm of grief, but
tenderly, sadly, they look their last at one another,
while Hermes, guide of departed spirits, makes gentle
signal for the wife's return. In the chastened pathos of
this scene we have the quintessence of the temper of
Greek art in dealing with the fact of death.
F. B. Tarbell, A History of Ancient Greek Art
