Music has charms

Johnson, James (1803-1834)

Coypel, Charles-Antoine (1694-1752) (after a work of)

Item type:

print

Height:

27.0 cm  (10 5/8 in.)

Width:

37.3 cm  (14 11/16 in.)

plate: 24.9 × 35.1 cm (9 13/16 × 13 13/16 inches), and image: 22.9 × 35.1 cm (9 × 13 13/16 inches)

Technique / Medium:

mezzotint on moderately thick, moderately textured, cream, laid paper

Description

In an idealized landscape, two splendidly-dressed musicians sit under trees: the woman plays a guitar; the man plays a hurdy-gurdy. The scene is presented as an illustration of the poetry inscribed beneath it.

Iconclass

25HH15
forest, wood - HH - ideal landscapes
31A2351
sitting on the ground
48CC753
more than one musician with instrument - CC - 'concert champêtre'
48CC7522
one person playing string instrument (plucked) - CC - out of doors
48CC75611
hurdy-gurdy player - CC - out of doors
48CC7314
hurdy-gurdy - CC - out of doors
41D2
clothes, costume

Instruments [MIMO Code] (notes)

Guitar [3237]
Hurdy-gurdy [3305]

RIdIM images

Image URLs

image link 1

Notes

Inscribed in graphite, verso, lower center: "457". Lettered, lower left: "Ch. Coypel pinxt. | If Musick of its Self has Soothing Charms, | Inspires soft Passions & the harsh disarms;- | Hon doubly Sense receives the Sweet Surprize. | Where harmony is help'd by beautious Eyes!-"; lettered, lower right: "J. Johnson fecit. | For Beauty acts the Subtle Lightning's part. | Flashes at once, and pierces to the Heart; - | The Swift Destruction in a Glance is dealt.- | And the rapt Youth dyes ere his Wound is felt."

RIdIM record id

6345