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Notes
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The sitter is represented holding a lyre guitar that probably belonged to the entourage of Napoleon’s sister, Elisa Baciocchi, the Grand Duchess of Lucca. It has been suggested the sitter is Elisa’s lady-in-waiting Olympia Cenami, who had been portrayed by the same artist in 1809, but a comparison between the paintings does not fully confirm this. It has also been proposed that she may be the singer and musician Teresa Bottini, who was part of the Duchess’ court. The furniture in the painting is of the First Empire style. The lyre guitar was popular in Europe between 1780 and 1820, especially in Paris where it was very much in vogue as a salon instrument. The fret board is located between two curved arms recalling the shape of the ancient Greek lyre.
The artist was born in Rome in 1783 and was the son of the painter Bernadino Nocchi. He was active in Rome and Lucca, where the Grand Duchess of Lucca, a patroness of musicians, composers and artists, commissioned him to paint members of the court, of which this painting is a fine example.
Title
A Lady with a Lyre Guitar
Date
1811
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 59.7 x W 48.2 cm
Accession number
B.M.876
Acquisition method
bequeathed by the Founders, 1885
Work type
Painting
