Orpheus Charming the Beasts

The painting I chose was Orpheus by Voltaggio. It contains a man playing music with all different kinds of animals listening intently. The choice of animals is interesting in and of itself. All five categories from Earthlings are represented here. There are companion animals, animals used for experimentation, clothing, food, and entertainment animals. They are all giving the man playing music they're undivided attention. I suppose this is a take on the old saying, "music soothes the savage beast." The painter seems to be showing man's dominion over all beasts, proving his superiority. The various animals have no personalities of their own. They are all just hypnotized by the man. It's as if he could do whatever he wanted to them.