> Monica, If you consider the exact (hyperrealist) way that Vermeer paints a harpsichord or a cittern, don't you feel this baroque guitar as a very strange model? The "plantilla", the details of decoration (especially the rosette and the pistagne, the black and white border motiv) makes me feel that if Vermeer had an harpsichord in front of him in his studio when painting, he didn't have this guitar under the eyes. Painted from memory ? The pistagne looks as if it was a whool twisted strand: I can't imagine the way you would realise this in wood.
Certainly the rosette looks rather odd - but this may be something to do with the state of the painting. I seem to recall that many of his paintings survive in a poor state or have been badly restored because they were all sold off on his death. I must go and have another look at the original. What I have always thought is rather strange is the way she is holding the instrument- especially the position of the left hand. It is almost as if she was using the thumb to stop the lower courses. The right hand looks as if she is playing "thumb inside" which is not a very convenient position for strumming chords. Cheers Monica > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: James A Stimson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Patrick H <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Cc: Lute List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 11:06 PM > Subject: Re: Girl with the Pearl Earing > > >> >> >> >> >> Dear Patrick and All: >> Even more interesting would be whether the film features a cittern. Such >> an instrument (apparently the same instrument, a tenor with a striped > back) >> is featured in no fewer than five of Vermeer's paintings. >> Yours, >> Jim >> >> >> >> |---------+----------------------------> >> | | Patrick H | >> | | <[EMAIL PROTECTED]| >> | | com> | >> | | | >> | | 01/05/2004 12:30 | >> | | PM | >> | | | >> |---------+----------------------------> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > ---------------------------------------------------| >> | > | >> | To: Lute List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > | >> | cc: > | >> | Subject: Girl with the Pearl Earing > | >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > ---------------------------------------------------| >> >> >> >> >> I had a chance to see a preview of the Johannes Vermeer movie, Girl with a >> Pearl Earing, several weeks ago, but due to a bad storm I missed it. I >> have since seen the preview, and there are scenes of Vermeer with his >> models painting. I was wondering if anyone had seen the movie yet, and >> whether any lutes were featured? Either on the soundtrack or being > played >> by the models. >> >> >> --------------------------------- >> Do you Yahoo!? >> Find out what made the Top Yahoo! Searches of 2003 >> -- >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > >
