Trevisani reworked
The above drawing is for sale at Bubb Kuyper’s 75 upcoming auction as lot 5120. It is presented as Anonymous from the late 17th to- beginning of the 18th century. As the images below show, it is a sketch inspired … Continue reading Trevisani reworked
A “walking man” that has lost his “cello”.
Here is a wonderful sculpture at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam (inv. BK-16083): it represents a walking man with a raised left arm and the right protrunding outwards. The description of the item in the museum’s website reads: De man staat … Continue reading A “walking man” that has lost his “cello”.
Rosa’s lid
This fascinating painting is known to be a piece of a harpsichord lid, notably the flap covering the keyboard. Salvator Rosa, other than an extremely talented draughtsman and painter, was also a poet and a musician. I had the fortune of holding in my hands a manuscript of vocal music (Paris, Bibliotheque National, Music Department) that most likely belonged to him, as some of the textual compositions may have been written by the artist. This is all well known. Here is some literature and a recent video on the music behind the skull. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/Y2XxPhYEY-I Margaret Murata, Dr Burney Bought … Continue reading Rosa’s lid
Angels making music
It’s been a while, but life has its interesting ways in preventing me to write posts. This nice drawing just came under my eyes and thought I could share. It will be sold tomorrow, 14th April 2021 as lot 33 at Pandolfini (Central Italy school of the end of the XVI century). It’s very cute! Continue reading Angels making music
Bubo strikes again
Again Facebook provides nice images about everything and in this case a wonderfully decorated initial from an Italian Gradual dating 1549. Nothing more is added information-wise, however that owl was too familiar… It’s a copy in reverse after “Bubo”, the … Continue reading Bubo strikes again
Let’s play
I haven’t been posting for a very long time as I have been (and still am) very busy working on my papers. Today while browsing through the latest sale catalogue of BASSENGE (Nov. 2019) I found this very eloquent drawing … Continue reading Let’s play
The theorbist
Among the Niemeijer pictures there was this stunning drawing by a non specified Bolognese artist from the 17th century. Striking are the details of the hands, especially the one striking the strings, in the middle. Pure visual delight. It is … Continue reading The theorbist
Cucù Couchet! / (Peekaboo Couchet!)
Besides collecting pictures of musical instruments and performances, Dr. J.W. Niemeijer amassed a reasonable amount of portraits of composers, musicians and more in general people related to music. A striking one is the supposed-to-be portrait of Johannes Couchet (1610-1655)* Flemish … Continue reading Cucù Couchet! / (Peekaboo Couchet!)
“Zen and the Art of Lute Maintenance”
Among the images collected by J.W. Niemeijer there is a stunning portrait of an unknown man stringing a lute. According to the inscription the artist’s name is also obscure, however, he might have been active in Northern Italy in the … Continue reading “Zen and the Art of Lute Maintenance”
Anna Bianco 