A Musical Party

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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Notes

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There is no doubting who is the star of this group of musicians. The fair-haired woman in a bright pink dress with gold-trimmed sleeves and elaborate lace collars is clearly the centre of our attention. She is bathed in sunlight which also catches the curves and polished surface of her viola da gamba. The other musicians around the table wear far more muted colours and are mostly cast in shadow.

What we see now is probably only an edited version of the original composition. The figure of a boy removing a flask from a wine cooler was painted out in 1969–70; at the time it was considered to be a later addition, but it is now believed to have been painted by Olis himself. Reinstating the boy would reintroduce a very subtle hint that such innocent gatherings are always vulnerable to the corrupting influence of alcohol.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

A Musical Party

Date

1633

Medium

Oil on oak

Measurements

H 36.7 x W 52.8 cm

Accession number

NG3548

Acquisition method

Presented by Alfred de Pass, 1920

Work type

Painting

Normally on display at

The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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