The music lesson Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675)
Johannes Vermeer – The music lesson
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Painter: Johannes Vermeer
Location: The Royal Collection of the United Kingdom, London.
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The painting "Lesson in Music" belongs to the brush of the Dutch artist. The canvas was painted between 1662 and 1665. It was created using canvas and oil. Since 1696, the painting was part of the Royal Collection of Great Britain. As a result of an error in the deciphering of the signature, the right of authorship was attributed to Franz van Myris the Elder. The real author of the painting was established only in 1866. All the actions on the canvas take place in a large room, dimly lit through the mosaic windows stained glass. The central place in the picture is taken by a piano with a girl standing behind it with her back to the viewer.
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Description of the painting "Music Lesson" by Jan Vermeer
The painting "Lesson in Music" belongs to the brush of the Dutch artist. The canvas was painted between 1662 and 1665. It was created using canvas and oil. Since 1696, the painting was part of the Royal Collection of Great Britain. As a result of an error in the deciphering of the signature, the right of authorship was attributed to Franz van Myris the Elder. The real author of the painting was established only in 1866.
All the actions on the canvas take place in a large room, dimly lit through the mosaic windows stained glass.
The central place in the picture is taken by a piano with a girl standing behind it with her back to the viewer. Beside her sits an elderly teacher, ready at any moment to cheer up his student and give practical advice. A large mirror, reflecting the face and part of the girl’s torso, rests on the piano. To the right of the piano, behind the teacher’s back, can be seen a large painting. The subject depicted on it remains unknown to the viewer. At the girl’s feet can be seen a string musical instrument, a contrabass or domra.
A large table covered with a heavy tablecloth, the ends of which hang down to the floor, takes up the foreground of the painting. The only object on the table is a white jug. It seems to be the source of light, as it stands out on the canvas the most.
The artist pays special attention to the characters’ clothes. The teacher is dressed in a strict black suit with white cuffs. Judging by the sling over his body and the cane on which the man is leaning, he belongs to the higher class. Most likely, the girl on the canvas is his niece or daughter. The girl is dressed in a long dress, according to the customs of the time, consisting of several skirts. The upper skirt is black and the lower one is red. The top of the dress is white. The girl also does not belong to the lower class, rather she is a pupil of a boarding house.
Despite the presence of windows, white walls, and a certain play of light created by the jug and mirror, the overall picture is rather gloomy.
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