Eurydice on the Styx

"Eurydice on the Styx" pen & ink, acrylic and some digital additions. For sale as a print, from mlpeters.com
Eurydice was the wife of Orpheus, the legendary musician/poet. She died when pursued by a minor god, Aristaeus, and in her flight, being bitten by a viper. Orpheus was disconsolate and went to the underworld, to bring her back, one of few living to cross the Styx, the river which bounds the underworld. The music Orpheus played for Hades and Persephone (the king and queen of he underworld) so moved them, that they allowed Eurydice to be returned to the world of the living, but on one condition. Orpheus must exit the underworld by a cave, following a long winding course, and on this journey must not look back to see if Eurydice follows.

As a shade, Eurydice makes no sound and Orpheus has only the underworld god and goddess's word... which he begins to doubt. Of course, he turns and sees Eurydice, before he comes to the cave exit, and she is lost to him, her spirit belonging to the underworld of death.

This picture shows Eurydice on her crossing of the Styx, before Orpheus would come to win her back, but ultimately fail. It's a sad picture, but I hope beautiful in it's sadness.

I painted it over a large, card-stock photocopy, so the pen & ink original still exists and will be added to my "For Sale" gallery.