I like your summation, Mathias. There seems to be something important
about the hands, too. They seem emphasised. One form of marriage was
the Hand Ceremony. (I'm sorry I don't have a definitive reference for
it; I read about it in a book about Shakespeare) Would this be
relevant at this date?
Getting back to lutes, the lute player seems uncomfortable holding the
lute. Three fingers of the right hand are on the same string and the
right hand seems to be pinching the strings like a beginner. The
little finger is off the belly. I'm going to go out on a limb here and
not put much faith in his thumb-out position either.
As Jean-Michel points out there is a similarity to another previously
painted lute, minus the later shape and number of courses.
http://www.vanedwards.co.uk/2.htm
Sean
On Aug 17, 2009, at 5:30 AM, Mathias Rösel wrote:
"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the
mother of Jesus was there: 2. And both Jesus was called, and his
disciples, to the marriage. 3. And when they wanted wine, the mother
of
Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4. Jesus saith unto her,
Woman,
what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5. His mother
saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. 6. And
there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the
purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece. 7.
Jesus
saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them
up
to the brim. 8. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto
the
governor of the feast. And they bare it. 9. When the ruler of the
feast
had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was:
(but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the
feast
called the bridegroom, 10. And saith unto him, Every man at the
beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then
that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. 11.
This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and
manifested
forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." (John 2:1-11)
No skullduggery, I'd say. Just the the servants, whispering there's no
more wine. The bridegroom complains about the meat. Their guests on
the
left whisper explanations why this wedding is so poor (I guess the man
on the left to the bridegroom is meant to be his father, as the colour
of their coats is the same). The musician is better dressed than the
couple and plays as rich a lute as the couple could never afford. Be
the
lute as good as it may, it cannot brighten the general mood because
all
material goods required for the wedding are short
My farthing.
--
Mathias
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