Pictures of the Month | July 2010
Picture of the Month
July 2010
Still Life with Musical Instruments, about 1660
Evaristo Baschenis (1617-1677)
'All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players'. The meaning of William Shakespeare's well known quote is also that of
the scene depicted here by Baschenis, which alludes to the fragility of human life and the uselessness of worldly possessions. The curtain has been lifted to reveal the scene, and whilst
musical instruments replace the players, the message remains the same.
At first glance the image appears to be a simple still life, however, as with the majority of still life paintings, a closer inspection reveals the deeper meaning conveyed by the individual objects. The violin, balanced awkwardly on the jewellery box, has a broken string, perhaps suggesting that music, like life, is transient and easy to untune. Its precarious position no doubt reflects the precariousness of life. The orange beside it, like the apple, symbolises the fruit of temptation and man's original sin. Baschenis, born into a family of fresco painters, entered the Jesuit priesthood aged 26, and this work demonstrates a profound sense of piety. Meditating on the theme of the vanity of worldly pleasure and possessions, each object further illuminates this motif.
The lute resting on the table is covered in dust, as if it has been left abandoned. However, we can see that someone has touched it, a virtuosic touch that highlights Baschenis technical skill as an artist.
The picture is an outstanding example of the formal concerns of Baschenis's art, which delights in the geometric shapes of the man-made objects, arranged with such care and precision. The majestic curtain and dramatic lighting and colours reveal a debt to the style of Caravaggio, while the solemnity and luminosity of the scene call to mind the art of Vermeer, an artist with whom Baschenis is frequently compared with.
Still Life with Musical Instruments is the only example of Baschenis work on display in a public collection in Britain, and is one of just a handful displayed outside Italy, making this beautiful and poignant work a rare treasure of the Barber Institute.
Still Life with Musical Instruments will be the focus of a free Lunchtime Gallery Talk by Arnold Franks on Thursday 22 July at 1.30 pm, in the red gallery.
Laura Pitcher
| What is your favourite work of art in the Barber Institute galleries? Drop us a line at info@barber.org.uk and let us know, and we could feature your choice in a future Picture of the Month. |