Allegory of Music
Laurent de La Hyre (French, Paris 1606–1656 Paris)
The allegorical figure tunes a theorbo. At her shoulder is a songbird, symbol of natural music, whereas by contrast she may be musica artificialis, modern music theory and practice. To the right are various contemporary instruments and scores: a lute, a violin, two recorders, a vocal exercise, and a song in two parts. This canvas, originally flanked by two music-making putti (Musée Magnin, Dijon), belonged to a series of the seven Liberal Arts commissioned by Gédéon Tallemant (1613–1668) for his house in the Marais quarter of Paris.
The little bird is probably a symbol of musica “naturale“.
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Art and nature is an age old controversy going back to the ancient world, what is greater are or nature.
For the ancients and for many in later centuries, art was superior because it improved on what was called 'rude' nature. A classic example is gardening in the 17th century, where Capability Brown was widely considered to have improved the natural surroundings by artifice and husbandry and it is a nice amalgam of art and nature, an improved garden.
Laurent de La Hyre (French, Paris 1606–1656 Paris)
The allegorical figure tunes a theorbo. At her shoulder is a songbird, symbol of natural music, whereas by contrast she may be musica artificialis, modern music theory and practice. To the right are various contemporary instruments and scores: a lute, a violin, two recorders, a vocal exercise, and a song in two parts. This canvas, originally flanked by two music-making putti (Musée Magnin, Dijon), belonged to a series of the seven Liberal Arts commissioned by Gédéon Tallemant (1613–1668) for his house in the Marais quarter of Paris.
The little bird is probably a symbol of musica “naturale“.
***
Art and nature is an age old controversy going back to the ancient world, what is greater are or nature.
For the ancients and for many in later centuries, art was superior because it improved on what was called 'rude' nature. A classic example is gardening in the 17th century, where Capability Brown was widely considered to have improved the natural surroundings by artifice and husbandry and it is a nice amalgam of art and nature, an improved garden.
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