There are paintings of the interiors of artists' studios that show props used in pictures: busts, skulls, ornate chairs, drapes and sometimes (iirc) musical instruments. Such props are even listed in tax inventories, I understand. Art historians have traced some from painting to painting, e.g., an ornate three-leg chair. Instruments might serve, as perhaps is the case in this painting, as symbols of the harmonious nature of love. The over reaction of the sitters in this painting recalls, at least to me, the depictions of various emotions illustrated in old treatises on acting. "Hamming it up" seems to have been part of theatrical performances in the past. So, one might argue, this painting may have been intended as a serious depiction. Ad the angles of the two instruments, as Gary notes, may have been foremost in the artist's plan. On the other hand, musicians would surely demand precision in the depiction of fingerings, holding the instrument, etc., because their professional competency might otherwise be questioned. Interesting discovery, David. I must visit your web page more frequently. Arthur
On 11/24/15, Martyn Hodgson<[1]hodgsonmar...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote: Very interesting David. It may be simply a fashionable couple wanting to be portrayed performing but in fact unable to play a note! Perhaps the painter who, as you point out, might be thought to have known better was laughing up his sleeve... Or perhaps, and maybe more likely (the painter might not have wished to be later seen to make fools of his rich clients), they had insisted on this sort of pose (it certainly looks very stylised especially with the young lady's eyes turned to heaven etc) and their insistence overcame any scruples the painter may have expressed about depicting them actually playing. In short, the very act of posing for the picture was the statement rather than the playing of music. regards Martyn __________________________________________________________________ From: David Van Edwards <[2]da...@vanedwards.co.uk> To: [3]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu Sent: Tuesday, 24 November 2015, 10:50 Subject: [LUTE] Another lute picture? Dear All, My Lute of the Month series has dwindled to lute of the Year these days! It's because I've mainly been writng them for the Lute Society's newsletter, Lute News, now it has a nice full colour cover. But here is the latest, as it were more public, example up on the web at [1][4]http://www.vanedwards.co.uk/month/Nov%2015/month.htm I hope you find it fun! As usual please email me any corrections or comments Best wishes, David -- The Smokehouse, 6 Whitwell Road, Norwich, NR1 4HB England. Telephone: + 44 (0)1603 629899 Website: [2][5]http://www.vanedwards.co.uk -- To get on or off this list see list information at [3][6]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html -- References 1. [7]http://www.vanedwards.co.uk/month/Nov%2015/month.htm 2. [8]http://www.vanedwards.co.uk/ 3. [9]http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html References 1. mailto:hodgsonmar...@yahoo.co.uk 2. mailto:da...@vanedwards.co.uk 3. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu 4. http://www.vanedwards.co.uk/month/Nov%2015/month.htm 5. http://www.vanedwards.co.uk/ 6. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/ 7. http://www.vanedwards.co.uk/month/Nov%2015/month.htm 8. http://www.vanedwards.co.uk/ 9. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/
