Female figures and putti playing musical instruments
Burney, Edward Francis (1760-1848)
- Yale Center for British Art
Gift of Abel Cary Thomas, Yale BA 1905, transfer from the Yale University Library and the Yale University Art Gallery[Museum inv. no.: B1979.12.932]
Item location
Description
This drawing includes three separate scenes in three medallion-like shapes connected by laurel garlands. The upper scene presents a full-length figure, reminiscent of St. Cecilia, gazing upward, with two putti beside her (instruments: harp, long trumpet, tambourine). The two lower medallions carry earthly scenes, one domestic, the other theatrical. The domestic scene, supported by a rose garland, features a young woman playing piano which has two moderator pedals; behind her is a violin-playing putto. The theatrical scene, supported by a grape-vine garland and footlights, presents a young woman with a lyre and an aulos-playing putto; a second putto carries a traditional tragedy masks to place beside a comedy mask visible in the background. The point at which the three types of garlands meet is marked by a staff (pointing toward the domestic side), a tambourine, long trumpets, panpipes, and cymbals.Iconclass
48C70'Musica', symbolic representations, allegories and emblems ~ music, 'Musica'(Ripa)
Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)
End-blown trumpet [6556]Tambourine [2746]
Harp [3285]
Pianoforte [2299] (with two moderator pedals and fluted-style legs)
Lyre [3501]
Aulos [4173] (double)
Panpipe [4024]
Cymbals [2451]
Violin [3573]
RIdIM images
