"Orpheus in Hell" by Pierre Amédé Marcel-Beronneau

 1897 Oil on canvas. 200 x 163 cm Museum of Fine Arts, Marseille, France

 In the late 19th century, through the efforts of Joseph Peladin, Catholic symbolism became extremely popular in France. At that time, many artists were deeply immersed in their fantasies. They turned to the legends of antiquity, and the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus, depicted in an enthusiastic combination of gold and blue and telling about the hero's attempts to save his beloved from death, became the icon of their movement.

 Prominent in this series is the painting by Pierre Amédée Marseille-Beronneau, Orpheus in Hell. It was presented at the last of six Salons de la Rose + Croix organized by Péladan, which took place in 1897. The painting, painted under the strong influence of Gustave Moreau, demonstrates how French symbolism freezes in the depths of death, sleep and the subconscious.

 The Salon Rose + Cross took place from 1892 to 1897 in various galleries throughout the French capital. Artists had to obey strict regulations: no still lifes or landscapes, only art in the service of the Divine.