An Alfresco Concert at Asolo
Italian (Venetian) School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1510 - 1800 - 1899
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1245 x 1943 mm (49 x 76 1/2 in)
Place of origin
Italy
Order this imageCollection
Attingham Park, Shropshire
NT 609022
Summary
An oil painting on canvas of an alfresco Concert at Asolo. The painting is a pastiche of Giorgione and was painted by an artist of the Italian (Venetian) School, circa 1510. The painting has 19th century overpaint. A group of figures are pictured against a background showing the hill town of Asolo. An elderly lady and a group of courtiers listen to a concert being played on lutes and a vielle. The vielle was the instrument most used by the troubadours and trouveres, and crops up in numerous paintings and carvings. The depiction of a vielle in this painting is of particular interest to the history of musical instruments. Although the vielle and violin are different instruments, and clearly designed for different purposes and different musical styles, the design of the violin, invented by the Amati family around 1530, was clearly influenced by the vielle. The instrument depicted in'Concert at Asolo' is a transitional form between the vielle and violin. The spikes on the sides of the painted vielle recall the double spikes and deep curves of the violin. The vielle has four string, not five, which suggests it was tuned like a violin. However, the bridge and soundboard appear flat, implying an earlier construction technique typical of vielles.
Provenance
Attingham collection. 1847 Catalogue of Paintings p.8; 1913 Inventory p.65; bequeathed to the National Trust with the estate, house and contents of Attingham by Thomas Henry Noel-Hill, 8th Baron Berwick (1877-1947) on 15th May 1953.
Credit line
Attingham Park, The Berwick Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
On reverse of canvas: indecipherable text On stretcher (top): City of Manchester Art Galleries / ART TREASURES CENTENARY EXHIBITION, 1957 / Artist ... Copy after Giorgione (1478-1510) / Title .. Concert at Asolo (the court of Caterina Cornaro?) / Serial No. ..46 / Owner .. The National Trust / Address .. Attingham Park, nr. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, printed label with e d above a decorative panel comprising a female head under a mural crown, around which the words Dogana Italiana and to top MERCI and bottom VISITATE, beneath the panel 9745, the whole label crossed in ink, chalk 12. On stretcher (middle left vertical): 74 (stamped) Mostra di Giorgione E I Giorgioneschi Venezia 1905 (or 1935?) On stretcher (bottom): ATT/P/086 On stretcher (right): Lord Berwick, No.72 On reverse of frame (top): Rogers (Group 2) On reverse of frame (top): 46 (twice) On reverse of frame (top): 74 On reverse of frame (left): 12 On reverse of frame (bottom): ATT/P/086
Makers and roles
Italian (Venetian) School , artist previously catalogued as follower of Giorgione (Castelfranco c.1477 - Venice 1510), artist