Artwork
Studies of musicians
Studies of musicians is a drawing by the Baroque artist Agostino Tassi. It dates from 1600 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Studies of musicians is a drawing by Agostino Tassi, dating to 1600, currently housed at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work comprises three quick sketches of musicians on a single sketchbook page.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts three musicians, each playing a different instrument: a violin, a lute, and a drum. Their attire is characterized by loose, old-fashioned clothing, wide hats, and ruffled collars, though the significance of these details is not explicitly clear in the context of the drawing.
Technique & Style
The sketches are executed in loose, energetic lines, bordering on scribbles, indicating a rapid and expressive drawing technique. The emphasis is on capturing movement and gesture rather than detailed realism.
History & Provenance
Created in 1600 by Agostino Tassi, the drawing is now part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection. A separate, unrelated work—a religious scene—appears on the same page, labeled as part of the Dalton Bequest.
Artist & collection
Artist
Agostino Tassi (born Agostino Buonamici; bapt. 3 August 1578 – January 1644) was an Italian landscape and seascape painter who was convicted of raping Artemisia Gentileschi in 1612.
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