Artwork
Attributes of Music
Attributes of Music is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist François Bonvin. It dates from 1863 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Attributes of Music is a painting by François Bonvin, a 19th-century artist associated with the Realist movement.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a still life of musical instruments, including a lute and flute, resting on sheet music, symbolizing the art of music.
Technique & Style
Bonvin's use of light highlights the texture of the instruments, creating a sense of quiet contemplation through chiaroscuro, a technique that emphasizes contrasts between light and dark.
Context
The painting was part of a larger decorative scheme, intended to hang above a door opposite companion pieces representing painting and sculpture, now housed in the Musée du Louvre, Paris.
History & Provenance
As a Realist painter, Bonvin was influenced by Gustave Courbet, and focused on depicting everyday life and culture in a straightforward manner.
Artist & collection
