How are you?
On every Thursday, I am
introducing the stories about various artists and their paintings with the
title “Interesting Art Stories”.
The 29th story for this week is “The
Music Lesson” by Johannes Vermeer, a Dutch painter who was active in the
Baroque period.
Johannes Vermeer
“The Music Lesson" or "A Lady at the Virginals with a
Gentleman" is a painting of a young female pupil receiving a music lesson
from a man. The man in the painting appears to be singing along with the music
that the girl is playing.
Vermeer consistently used the same objects in his
paintings, such as draped rug, water jug, various musical instruments, tiled
floors and windows conveying light. This is one of few paintings by Vermeer
that were kept in his home until 1675, when he died and his family was forced
to sell them.
Vermeer's paintings seem
cool and serene on the surface, but are filled with symbols of passion and
hints of outright eroticism.
In this painting, a young woman is engrossed in
playing the virginals, an instrument related to purity, while her teacher is
watching her playing. However, a closer look in the mirror above her, shows
that she is not engrossed in playing, but is looking at her teacher instead.
Her teacher, the man, also
looks like he is singing along with her music playing, but he is staring at
her. This implies that the two
are not only connected by music, but also they are lovers.
Also, the water jug placed
on the table often implies lust, and the cello next to the table is often used
as a symbol of men.
Vermeer used linear
perspective and his invention of the camera pictura to create the illusion of
space and depth in the room. This effect gives the feeling of drawing this
painting in a spot where the two are far apart, and it also gives the feeling
of a peek at the two from a distance.
The painting became a part
of the Royal Collection and is currently on display at The Queen's Gallery of
Buckingham Palace in London.
The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace
Thank you.
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