“The sculptors of the cathedral porches of the Middle Ages already knew that we can identify many legendary figures by their attributes, not their physical appearance. How is one to recognize Orpheus without his lyre, or Saint Lawrence without his grid? At the same time it seems a bit absurd, In an art that claims to be realistic, to have Orpheus always carrying his lyre, like a German businessman his briefcase. There must have been moments when Orpheus and Saint Lawrence left their lyre or their grid at the checkroom, for instance.. [c. 1960, in France]”

— Ossip Zadkine

Source: 1960 - 1968, Dialogues – conversations with.., quotes, c. 1960, p. 153

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Ossip Zadkine 31

French sculptor 1890–1967

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“As a matter of fact, these attributes are their fate, no longer separate objects they can carry.... part of their actual presence. I try to signify this by reorganizing the objective form of such a legendary figure so as to create an allegorical form that is complete in itself, no longer requiring an attribute that must be carried like the German businessman’s briefcase; the lyre becomes part of the poet's presence, its text written all over his body, as if tattooed on his skin.”

Ossip Zadkine (1890–1967) French sculptor

quote, c. 1960, in France
Source: 1960 - 1968, Dialogues – conversations with.., quotes, c. 1960, p. 153

“!-- His whinny was sweeter
Than Orpheus' lyre.
The wing on his shoulder
Was brighter than fire. --> His tail was a fountain.
His nostrils were caves.
His mane and his forelock
Were musical waves.
He neighed like a trumpet.
He cooed like a dove.
He was stronger than terror
And swifter than love.”

Eleanor Farjeon (1881–1965) English children's writer

Pegasus, St. 2, p. 181
The New Book of Days (1961)

“Or to describe to his pupil upon his lyre the heroes of old time.”
Aut monstrare lyra veteres heroas alumno.

Statius book Achilleid

Source: Achilleid, Book I, Line 118

“At first, I thought I had found in this second figure [a bronze Orpheus, Zadkine made shortly after his return from New York to Paris, in 1944] the perfect solution, but a surprise awaited me. One day my coal merchant delivered to me, here in my studio, some wood for heating; among these logs I found a rudimentary but completely mysterious wooden figure of a man. He seemed to be walking in great strides, his torso suggested by only two simple boards which, in their structure, were very much like an ancient lyre. I immediately began working on a new 'Orpheus', in which the [music-]instrument had truly become part of the man.”

Ossip Zadkine (1890–1967) French sculptor

c. 1960
Source: 1960 - 1968, Dialogues – conversations with.., quotes, c. 1960, pp. 154-155

“But Orpheus has always haunted me, and I am not so sure I've exorcised his spell on me. For all I know, I may yet be tempted to try a sixth or a seventh 'Orpheus' in years to come. Besides the scale of each figure makes it necessary to conceive it differently.”

Ossip Zadkine (1890–1967) French sculptor

c. 1960
Source: 1960 - 1968, Dialogues – conversations with.., quotes, c. 1960, p. 155

“Miserable Orpheus who, turning to lose his Eurydice, beholds her for the first time as well as the last.”

Cyril Connolly book The Unquiet Grave

Part II: Te Palinure Petens (p. 70)
The Unquiet Grave (1944)

“Strikes his echoing lyre, singing the while, and bequeaths a name to the sands.”
Percutit ore lyram nomenque relinquit harenis.

Gaius Valerius Flaccus book Argonautica

Source: Argonautica, Book V, Line 100

“Timotheus, to his breathing flute,
And sounding lyre,
Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire.”

John Dryden (1631–1700) English poet and playwright of the XVIIth century

Source: Alexander’s Feast http://www.bartleby.com/40/265.html (1697), l. 158–159.

“Such the bard's prophetic words, Pregnant with celestial fire, Bending as he swept the chords Of his sweet but awful lyre.”

William Cowper (1731–1800) (1731–1800) English poet and hymnodist

"Boadicea" (1782).
Context: "Regions Caesar never knew
Thy posterity shall sway;
Where his eagles never flew,
None invincible as they."Such the bard's prophetic words, Pregnant with celestial fire, Bending as he swept the chords Of his sweet but awful lyre.

“Regions Caesar never knew
Thy posterity shall sway;
Where his eagles never flew,
None invincible as they.
Such the bard's prophetic words,
Pregnant with celestial fire,
Bending as he swept the chords
Of his sweet but awful lyre.”

William Cowper (1731–1800) (1731–1800) English poet and hymnodist

Source: "Boadicea" (1782)

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Ossip Zadkine 31

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