Stringed Collection (#11)

A lady playing a shamisen, a Japanese musical instrument
A Japanese lady in traditional costume plays a shamisen (also written samsin), a musical instrument with three strings

A Japanese tseng or dulcimer

The shamisen, a Japanese musical instrument
The shamisen(also written samsin), a Japanese musical instrument with three strings

Theatrical perfomer, Japan
Theatrical perfomer with musical instrument, riding a sea dragon, Japan. Date: circa 1890s

Frank & Raymond Hills Los Angeles Dance Orchestra, previously resident at the Hotel Negresco, Nice, France. Their instruments include violin, saxophone, banjo, piano, drums, trombone and euphonium

The Rajahs daughter by F. P Stephanoff
An oriental lady dreamily plucks a stringed instrument outdoors

A kousser, a Japanese musical instrument
A kousser, a Japanese stringed musical instrument

A kin and A se: two Asian musical instruments
A kin and a che(also written se), two stringed instruments from the Far East

Indian guitar
The bina, or Indian guitar. The elaborate workmanship of the body can be seen, as well as the profile of the instrument

Instruments of the Far East
A variety of stringed and wind instruments from the Far East. A Chinese organ, flagolet, oboe and trumpet are shown

Harlequin and Scaramouche
Harlequin illustration, showing Harlequin dancing to Scaramouches musical accompaniment. Date: 1923

Scaramouche playing his lute
Harlequin illustration, showing Scaramouche sitting under a tree, playing his lute. Date: 1923

Ladies orchestra, 1875
An orchestra of musical ladies delights an audience of gentlemen with their playing. In addition to the more usual stringed instruments

Franz Van Mieris - 2
FRANZ VAN MIERIS Dutch painter from Delft who also played the guitar or some such stringed instrument as the shades of night descended on the landscape... Date: 1635 - 1681

Cuza, Alexander John (Husi, 1820-Heidelberg, 1873). Prince of Romania (1859-1866)
Alexander John Cuza (Husi, 1820-Heidelberg, 1873). Prince of Romania (1859-1866). Country feast. Engraving by R. Cremer. Colored

Still Life with a Mandolin, 1885 (oil on canvas)
XIR83558 Still Life with a Mandolin, 1885 (oil on canvas) by Gauguin, Paul (1848-1903); 64x53 cm; Musee d Orsay, Paris, France; (add.info.: Nature Morte a la Mandoline; ); French, out of copyright

Angel Musicians (oil on panel)
XAL440624 Angel Musicians (oil on panel) by Stefano di Giovanni da Verona, (c.1374/5-p.1438); Museo Correr, Venice, Italy; (add.info.: Anges Musiciens; ); Italian, out of copyright

The Guitar Player (oil on canvas)
XIR440625 The Guitar Player (oil on canvas) by Mercier, Philippe (1689-1760); Musee Jeanne d Aboville, La Fere, France; (add.info.: Joueuse de guitare; Eleve de Watteau; Pupil of Watteau; ); French

St. Cecilia / a [monogram of Andrea Andreani], between 1530 and 1550. Trento, Antonio da, approximately 1508-approximately 1550, artist, Parmigianino, 1503-1540

2920896; out of copyright

Apache fiddle, from Arizona (painted wood)
XBP229237 Apache fiddle, from Arizona (painted wood) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; Photo eBoltin Picture Library; American, out of copyright

Couple making music, Jan van Somer, 1655 - 1700

The Instrument Makers Workshop, c. 1570 (engraving) (b / w photo)
XIR164834 The Instrument Makers Workshop, c.1570 (engraving) (b/w photo) by Amman, Jost (1539-91); Private Collection; Swiss, out of copyright

A Concert at Cambridge, 1770 (engraving)
XJF141733 A Concert at Cambridge, 1770 (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; English, out of copyright

A woman at her toilet, Joannes Bemme, 1800 - 1841

Elegantly dressed man standing on porch, looking at woman sitting in room with koto, Japanese stringed instrument, Japanese print, Kunisada (I), Utagawa, Kinugasa Fusajiro, Murata Heiemon, 1851 - 1853

Elegantly dressed man and woman sitting on pillow, looking at woman playing the koto (Japanese stringed instrument); in the background view on a garden with stone lantern and flowering trees

Portrait of Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840) (oil on canvas)
XIR18940 Portrait of Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840) (oil on canvas) by Italian School, (19th century); Conservatory of St. Peter, Naples, Italy; Italian, out of copyright

Japanese theatrical performer holding a Shamisen. Date: circa 1920s

Two European girls dressed as Geishas playing music (on a Shamisen-style instrument) during the tea ceremony. Date: circa 1910s

Japanese Geisha standing with her Traditional Shamisen Date: circa 1904

Japan - Woman in a kimono playing a traditional Koto
Japan - Woman in a kimono playing a traditional 13-stringed Koto. Date: circa 1907

Japan - Three Geisha Girls playing traditional instruments - two on drums and one playing the Shamisen. Date: circa 1904

Japan - Japanese Dancing girl and Shamisen player. Date: circa 1904

Japanese woman holding a shamisen
Japanese woman in traditional costume holding a shamisen. Date: circa 1904

Wandering Algerian musician
Itinerant Algerian musician playing a local three-stringed guitar-type instrument. Date: circa 1910s

Lebanon - Two Bedouin Musicians playing masenqo
Lebanon - Two Bedouin Musicians, both playing the masenqo. Date: circa 1910s

Sarah Bernhardt in Le Passant - playing a Lute
Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) in Le Passant (play by Coppee) - playing a Lute. Date: circa 1895

Unusual woman playing a small stringed instrument
Slightly unusual postcard showing a woman with long dark flowing locks strumming away at a small lute. A slightly deranged gaze to boot... Date: 1907

Harpist - Mavis Shellshear - displaying admirable pluck! Date: circa 1910s

East African Jewish Bedouin Musician in Jerusalem, Israel. Playing a masenqo, a single-stringed bowed lute commonly found in the musical traditions of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Date: circa 1920s

Maxim Gorky, Russian Writer with a Gusli Player
Alexei Maximovich Peshkov (Maxim Gorky) (1868-1936), Russian and Soviet writer, a founder of the Socialist Realism literary method and a political activist

Vina - Indian Instrument
Vina - The most ancient on Indian instruments, the great Vina is now generally known as the " Been". The instrument is composed of a bamboo and two gourds and has a peculiarly soft

Spinet - this lovely example with its six-legged stand was made in London by Stephen Keene at the Sign of the Virginal on Threadneedle Street in the 17th century

Sordino - known to the French as a pochette - this instrument is a pocket fiddle. Derived in form from the medieval Rebec, orignating from the Near East and also known as the Gigue

Lute - In general use throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, but its origin can be traced back to to about 1000 BC. The instrument illustrated is Italian

Clavichord - A forerunner of the pianoforte, the clavichord was a stringed instrument derived from the dulcimer by the addition of a keyboard

Chinese Fiddles - Two kinds of Saw Chine or Chinese fiddles are shown here. The first is a Saw Duang, identified by the jewels around one of th pegs

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"Stringed Melodies: A Symphony of Art and Music" Immerse yourself in the enchanting world instruments, where timeless tales and captivating melodies intertwine. From the medieval courts to quaint coastal villages, from Italian masterpieces to African traditions, let us embark on a journey through the harmonious wonders that strings can create. In Sir Gawain and the Green Knight by William McLaren, the resonating chords of a violin transport us back to an era filled with chivalry and valor. Meanwhile, five young boys in Polperro, Cornwall strum their guitars under a starlit sky, filling the air with youthful exuberance. Sheet music adorns our imagination like delicate petals on a pink rose. As we gaze upon Piero della Francesca's paintings, we witness how his brushstrokes mimic the graceful movements of musicians playing violins or plucking at harp strings. Traveling across continents brings us closer to Senegal's vibrant culture as we listen to a Griot skillfully play his Kora – an instrument that echoes stories passed down through generations. The Emperor Stradivarius violin whispers secrets from its centuries-old craftsmanship while Fra Angelico's Coronation of the Virgin inspires heavenly symphonies within our souls. Even during festive seasons like Christmas, musical notes find their way into unexpected places - such as a banjo-shaped greeting card adorned with holiday cheer. And what better way to celebrate than with two violins and a viola crafted by none other than Stradivarius himself? From Agra in India emerges the mesmerizing sound of sitar strings being delicately plucked by skilled hands. Its ethereal tones resonate alongside images of yellow flowers gracing harps on cutout greetings cards or Victorian scraps featuring banjos adorned with pink blossoms. In this symphony composed by history itself, stringed instruments serve as conduits for emotions too profound for words alone.