Allegory of Music
The Met
Artist: Laurent de La Hyre(French, Paris 1606–1656 Paris)
Date: 1649
Department: European Paintings
Classification: Paintings
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 41 5/8 x 56 3/4 in. (105.7 x 144.1 cm)
Credit Line: Charles B. Curtis Fund, 1950
Visual Descriptions
AI GeneratedVisual Summary
Brief Description
A woman with a lute sits among musical instruments and classical architectural elements
Detailed Description
The image depicts a woman seated, holding a lute, in a setting that combines architectural structures with musical elements. She is positioned slightly left of center, facing right, with her head turned to look over her right shoulder. Her skin is fair, and her dark hair is styled with a light-colored band. She wears a flowing, draped garment: an orange-brown tunic over her left shoulder and chest, and a voluminous red cloak covering her lower body and right arm. Her left hand rests on the strings of the lute, which is positioned on her lap. The lute is a large, pear-shaped instrument with a long, dark neck extending diagonally upwards to the right. To the left, behind the woman, are two large, fluted columns against a light blue-grey sky. A small brown bird perches on a dark, textured surface near the base of the left column. To the right, behind the woman's right arm, is a large wooden organ with vertical pipes visible. A light-barked tree with green leaves is seen through an opening in the architecture. On a wooden surface in the lower right, several other musical instruments are arranged: a violin or viola, a small wooden flute, and an open book of sheet music with visible notes and staves. Another piece of sheet music lies flat beneath the flute. The overall palette is rich with warm reds, browns, and ochres, contrasted with the cooler tones of the sky and architectural elements.
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