Lyres Collection

Marble sculpture of Pothos, 2nd century AD, National Archaeological Museum, Naples, Campania, Italy, Europe

The arch of Laodicea in Syria, near Latakia
View of the ruins of the hexagonal court in the Heliopolis, Temple of Baalbek, Beqaa Valley, Lebanon. Mistakenly labeled Arco di Laodicea

Dublin Philharmonic Society Badge inscribed James Murray, 1784 (metal)
2959943 Dublin Philharmonic Society Badge inscribed James Murray, 1784 (metal) by Irish School, (18th century); Timothy Millett Collection; Irish, out of copyright

3673709

Orpheus and the Animals (oil on canvas)
471438 Orpheus and the Animals (oil on canvas) by Savery, Roelandt Jacobsz. (1576-1639); 84x139 cm; Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp

As he played they danced to his measure, in and out, and round and round (litho)
STC445080 As he played they danced to his measure, in and out, and round and round (litho) by Davie, Howard (fl.1914-44); Private Collection; (add.info.: The centaur Chiron, mentor of Jason)

Origins of Christmas - Druids cutting mistletoe, late 19th century (litho)
3315981 Origins of Christmas - Druids cutting mistletoe, late 19th century (litho) by British School, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark Pictures

Origins of Christmas - Druids cutting mistletoe, late 19th century (engraving)
3315925 Origins of Christmas - Druids cutting mistletoe, late 19th century (engraving) by British School, (19th century); Private Collection; Peter Newark Pictures

Various forms of Egyptian, Assyrian, and Greek Lyres (engraving)
3653639 Various forms of Egyptian, Assyrian, and Greek Lyres (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Various forms of Egyptian, Assyrian, and Greek Lyres)

Atrium or court of house in Pompeii (colour litho)
960344 Atrium or court of house in Pompeii (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Atrium or court of house in Pompeii, restored, illustrating Pompeii)

Dancers and musicians (chromolitho)
735820 Dancers and musicians (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dancers and musicians)

Dublin Philharmonic Society Badge inscribed James Murray, 1784 (metal)
2959944 Dublin Philharmonic Society Badge inscribed James Murray, 1784 (metal) by Irish School, (18th century); Timothy Millett Collection; Irish, out of copyright

By the Waters of Babylon, 1882-83 (oil on canvas)
WDM75672 By the Waters of Babylon, 1882-83 (oil on canvas) by Morgan, Evelyn De (1855-1919); 90x165 cm; De Morgan Collection, courtesy of the De Morgan Foundation; eDe Morgan Foundation; English

Minerva and the Muses on Mount Helicon, 1675 (oil on canvas)
3533840 Minerva and the Muses on Mount Helicon, 1675 (oil on canvas) by Schuer, Theodorus van der (1634-1707); 203x148.5 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; Dutch, out of copyright

Nymphs and Bacchantes paying homage at the temple of Flora (oil on canvas)
3066263 Nymphs and Bacchantes paying homage at the temple of Flora (oil on canvas) by Lairesse, Gerard de (1640-1711); 142.9x191.7 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

Portrait de Madame Larmoyer, three-quarter length, holing a lyre, 1804 (oil on panel)
6344295 Portrait de Madame Larmoyer, three-quarter length, holing a lyre, 1804 (oil on panel) by Vestier, Antoine (1740-1824); 92.7x73.3 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; French

Seven angels carrying seven flasks, from the Apocalypse Tapestry of Angers
902045 Seven angels carrying seven flasks, from the Apocalypse Tapestry of Angers, 1373-87 (tapestry) by Bataille, Nicolas (fl)

Sarcophagus (stone)
702400 Sarcophagus (stone) by Etruscan (3rd century BC); Vatican Museums and Galleries, Vatican City; Etruscan, out of copyright

King David, 1849 (stained glass)
3475197 King David, 1849 (stained glass) by Pugin, Augustus Welby Northmore (1812-52); Church of St Mary and St David, Kilpeck, Herefordshire

The Musicians by J James Tissot - Bible
3783486 The Musicians by J James Tissot - Bible by Tissot, James Jacques Joseph (1836-1902) (after); (add.info.: The Musicians by J James Tissot)

David and the four companions (chromolitho)
964072 David and the four companions (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: David and the four companions (David et la IV compagnons)

Flutes and stringed instruments (colour litho)
957863 Flutes and stringed instruments (colour litho) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Flutes and stringed instruments)

The Christ Child (chromolitho)
726925 The Christ Child (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Christ Child)

Corinna of Tanagra, c. 1893 (oil on canvas)
1631763 Corinna of Tanagra, c.1893 (oil on canvas) by Leighton, Frederic (1830-96); Leighton House Museum, Kensington & Chelsea, London, UK; eLeighton House; English, out of copyright

Young Sophocles Leading the Chorus of Victory after the Battle of Salamis, modeled 1885
2968797 Young Sophocles Leading the Chorus of Victory after the Battle of Salamis, modeled 1885, cast 1911 (bronze with green patina) by Donoghue

Angels Playing Harps, 1866 (stained glass)
3474857 Angels Playing Harps, 1866 (stained glass) by Burne-Jones, Edward Coley (1833-98); The Old West Kirk, Greenock, Uk; (add.info.: designed 1863 Manufactured by Morris, Marshall)

Miroir de la Mode fashions (colour litho)
732035 Miroir de la Mode fashions (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Evening dress (left), walking dress (centre), and carriage dress

In the Sea, 1883 (oil on panel)
2968198 In the Sea, 1883 (oil on panel) by Bocklin, Arnold (1827-1901); 86.5x115 cm; The Art Institute of Chicago, IL, USA; Joseph Winterbotham Collection; Swiss, out of copyright

Arion riding a dolphin (engraving)
964385 Arion riding a dolphin (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Arion, ancient Greek poet)

Apollos Enchantment, 1807 (oil on canvas)
1067886 Apollos Enchantment, 1807 (oil on canvas) by West, Benjamin (1738-1820); 111.1x142.2 cm; Dallas Museum of Art, Texas, USA; gift of Mrs. Robert A. Beyers; American, out of copyright

Performance of Aeschylus play The Persians in the theatre of Athens (chromolitho)
1093271 Performance of Aeschylus play The Persians in the theatre of Athens (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Women in a Viking ship (colour litho)
3095857 Women in a Viking ship (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Women in a Viking ship. Postcard, early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

"Tuning, "designed by the Late R J Wyatt (engraving)
1096801 " Tuning, " designed by the Late R J Wyatt (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: " Tuning, " designed by the Late R J Wyatt)

British Valentine card with an image of a man and a woman standing on a garden terrace (colour litho)
982413 British Valentine card with an image of a man and a woman standing on a garden terrace (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: British Valentine card)

Tomb of Frederic Chopin, Pere Lachaise Cemetary, Paris (b / w photo)
3094575 Tomb of Frederic Chopin, Pere Lachaise Cemetary, Paris (b/w photo) by French Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tomb of Frederic Chopin, Pere Lachaise Cemetary)

Apollo (oil on canvas)
3667188 Apollo (oil on canvas) by Grassi, Nicol (1682-1748); 72.2x53.3 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; Italian, out of copyright

Table, c. 1800 (burl maple, fir or pine, gilt bronze, & marble)
2969959 Table, c.1800 (burl maple, fir or pine, gilt bronze, & marble) by Gilly, Friedrich (1772-1800) (after); 78.5x72x55 cm; The Art Institute of Chicago, IL

Manners and customs of later Greece - a festive household, illustration from The Illustrated History of the World
LLM438558 Manners and customs of later Greece - a festive household, illustration from The Illustrated History of the World, published c.1880 (digitally enhanced image) by English School

After the Serenade (oil on panel)
5889224 After the Serenade (oil on panel) by Godward, John William (1861-1922); 40.6x12.7 cm; Private Collection; Photo eThe Ms Gallery, London; English, out of copyright

Portrait of the children of M. Bouette de Blemur, 1703 (oil on canvas)
5918280 Portrait of the children of M. Bouette de Blemur, 1703 (oil on canvas) by Rigaud, Hyacinthe Francois (1659-1743); 159.2x197.5 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; French

Musical instruments of the ancients -- lyres and zithers (coloured engraving)
997729 Musical instruments of the ancients -- lyres and zithers (coloured engraving) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Apollo (engraving)
1053303 Apollo (engraving) by Waller, Samuel Edmund (1850-1903) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Apollo. Illustration for The Graphic)

A woman playing a lyre (chromolitho)
964125 A woman playing a lyre (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A woman playing a lyre (Femme jouant du plectrum)

A king playing a lyre (chromolitho)
964092 A king playing a lyre (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: A king, a royal figure playing a lyre, a 10th-century depiction)

Pagan art and Christian art (chromolitho)
964051 Pagan art and Christian art (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Pagan art and Christian art. After Ciappori, lithography by Moulin)

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Lyres, an ancient musical instrument with a rich history that spans across civilizations and cultures. From the intricate marble sculpture of Pothos in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples to the captivating portraits in the Characters of the Muses in the Temple of Apollo, they have left their mark on art throughout time. In ancient Greece, two women delicately embroidered while melodies from lyres filled the air. The Dublin Philharmonic Society Badge inscribed with James Murray's name serves as a testament to its significance even during more recent times. The Anglo-Saxon era saw the emergence of various musical instruments, including lyres that added enchantment to their melodies. As depicted in Orpheus and the Animals, this mystical instrument had an otherworldly power that captivated both humans and creatures alike. However, not all tales involving they were filled with joyous melodies. The Death of Orpheus reminds us of his tragic fate after losing his beloved Eurydice. Yet even in sorrowful moments like these, music remained a powerful force capable of evoking emotions beyond words. As he played his lyre, people danced to its rhythm - moving gracefully "in and out" and "round and round. " This lithograph captures how music has always been intertwined with movement and celebration. The origins of Christmas also hold connections to lyres; Druids cutting mistletoe is depicted through lithographs and engravings from different eras. These images remind us that music transcends religious boundaries and has been part of celebrations since time immemorial. From Egyptian hieroglyphics to Assyrian reliefs, various forms of Egyptian, Assyrian, and Greek they have been immortalized through engravings. These depictions showcase not only their diverse designs but also their cultural significance across different regions. Lyres continue to resonate today as musicians draw inspiration from these ancient instruments.