(1565 - nach 1619/ tätig 1589 – 1608 in Prag) The death of Orpheus, oil on panel, 40 x 56 cm, framed,

Provenance: private collection Vienna;

Certificate: We are grateful to Drs. Jan Kosten of the Rijksbureau voor kunsthistorische Docunmentatie (RKD), The Hague for confirming the attribution of this painting to Dirck de Quade van Ravesteyn (written communication of 30 November 2009). Orpheus was a wonderful musician, to whom all manner of creatures listened entranced wherever he sang and played on his lyre. Trees went to him, and all of the animals, wild and tame gathered peacefully around him. In his mourning for his lover, Eurydice, who had died from a snake bite, Orpheus did not want to have anything further to do with women. So he was torn to pieces by the Bacchantes, the terrifying followers of Bacchus. It is presumed that Dirck de Quade van Ravesteyn came from Holland. He was active as court painter to Emperor Rudolfs II in Prague.

Provenance: private collection Vienna; Certificate: We are grateful to Drs. Jan Kosten of the Rijksbureau voor kunsthistorische Docunmentatie (RKD), The Hague for confirming the attribution of this painting to Dirck de Quade van Ravesteyn (written commun