Artwork
Man with a fiddle in bad company
Man with a fiddle in bad company is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Unknown. It dates from 1685 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
The painting 'Man with a fiddle in bad company' depicts a scene at a tavern where a musician is being robbed while enjoying himself.
Subject & Meaning
The work shows a man in a red coat playing a fiddle, oblivious to a young woman stealing from him. An old woman distracts him with a drink, while a man with a pipe observes the scene.
Technique & Style
The scene is rich in detail, with objects like a songbook and pipe contributing to the narrative. The artist uses these elements to convey a moral message without relying on text.
Context
The painting appears to serve as a cautionary tale, warning viewers of the dangers of succumbing to vice and distraction.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
