Orpheus, of Greek Mythology, is pictured here with a violin. Violin's were not yet invented in the time of Greek Mythology. Orpheus was a known musician in the time of Greek Mythology, but the instrument he played was called a lyre. A lyre is a string instrument similar to a harp. In more recent times, Orpheus is drawn and painted with a violin as the instrument of choice instead of a lyre. They do this because more people are familiar with a violin. This is an example of an anachronism in a painting because the painting has a more modern instrument and a more ancient person. The violin is misplaced in the wrong time period.
"Orpheus." mythweb. n.p.,n.d. Web. 27 March 2014.