Artwork
Musical Instruments
Musical Instruments is an oil painting by Evaristo Baschenis. It dates from 1657 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1657 by the Bergamo‑born Baroque painter Evaristo Baschenis, this oil on canvas presents a meticulously rendered still life of musical instruments. The work belongs to the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and exemplifies the artist’s lifelong focus on inanimate objects, especially stringed devices.
Subject & Meaning
The composition gathers a lute, a harp and a violin upon a modest tabletop, each instrument rendered with distinct shape and scale. By juxtaposing these varied stringed forms, the painting invites contemplation of the visual harmony among objects traditionally linked to auditory art.
Technique & Style
Baschenis employs a realistic, highly detailed approach, emphasizing the grain of wood, the tension of strings, and the subtle play of light on polished surfaces. A dark, unadorned background heightens the contrast, allowing the luminous textures of the instruments to dominate the visual field.
History & Provenance
After its execution in the mid‑17th century, the painting entered private collections before being acquired by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s European Baroque holdings.
Context
During the Baroque period, still‑life paintings often served both decorative and symbolic purposes. Baschenis, a specialist in this genre, contributed to a broader Italian tradition that celebrated material wealth and the fleeting nature of sensory pleasures through meticulously observed objects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Evaristo Baschenis (7 December 1617 – 16 March 1677) was an Italian Baroque painter of the 17th century, active mainly around his native city of Bergamo.
