Catherine de Medici entertaining the Polish ambassadors in the Tuileries Gardens

Caron, Antoine (1521-1599)

Item type:

drawing

Date of creation:

1573

Height:

34.2 cm  (13 7/16 in.)

Width:

49.0 cm  (19 5/16 in.)

Technique / Medium:

brown ink, brown wash, and white gouache over black chalk on cream antique laid paper, framing lines in brown ink, laid down on blue wove paper

Additional titles

Description

A representation of an actual historical event, this drawing presents a view of the formal Tuileries Gardens extending in the background and, in the foreground, a very large group of people gathered around a constructed tower from which musicians (six visible) play various musical instruments (probably lyre, violin, viola or viol, viola da gamba, lute)

People as subjects

Catherine de Médicis, Queen consort of Henry II (1519-1589) (Non-musician/dancer)

Iconclass

43A412
public festivities on the occasion of royal events
48CC7532
small group of musicians, chamber orchestra, jazz band - CC - 'concert champêtre'
61A
historical events and situations

Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)

Lyre [3501]
Violin [3573]
Viola [3561]
Viola da gamba [3604]
Lute [3394]

RIdIM images

Image URLs

image link 1

Notes

In August 1573, Catherine hosted lavish festivities for the Polish ambassadors who had arrived in Paris to offer the throne of Poland to her son, Henry, Duke of Anjou

RIdIM record id

5697