Viol Collection

Mary, Queen of Heaven, c. 1485- 1500 (oil on panel)
XOS741951 Mary, Queen of Heaven, c. 1485- 1500 (oil on panel) by Master of the Legend of St. Lucy (fl.1475-1505); 199.2 x 161.8 cm; National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

DOUBLE-BASS VIOL, 1723. Copper engraving, 1723, by Arnold van Westerhout

St. Cecilia singing Gods praises, engraved by Etienne Picart (1632-1721) (engraving)
STC82758 St. Cecilia singing Gods praises, engraved by Etienne Picart (1632-1721) (engraving) by Domenichino (Domenico Zampieri) (1581-1641) (after)

A Concert of Angels (oil on panel) (detail)
IND54135 A Concert of Angels (oil on panel) (detail) by Spanish School, (16th century); Museo de Bellas Artes, Bilbao, Spain; Index Fototeca

The Bass Viol Player, 1707. Artist: Picart, Bernard (1673?1733)
The Bass Viol Player, 1707. Private Collection

MS 2200 f.59 Music, from a collection of scientific, philosophical and poetic writings, French, 13th century
BEN85049 MS 2200 f.59 Music, from a collection of scientific, philosophical and poetic writings, French, 13th century; Bibliotheque Sainte-Genevieve, Paris, France; Photo © Raffaello Bencini

Violins and related instruments. l and 2: Pocket Violins, 3: Treble Violin, 4: Standard Treble Violin, 5: Tenor Violin
528005 Violins and related instruments. l and 2: Pocket Violins, 3: Treble Violin, 4: Standard Treble Violin, 5: Tenor Violin, 6: Bass Viol, 7: Trumscheit, 8: Scheidtholst

Sordini, 1888
1578376 Sordini, 1888; (add.info.: Sordini. The Sordini is a kind of pocket fiddle, also known as Pochette and Taschengeige')

Engraving depicting a man playing the viol, 19th century
5308635 Engraving depicting a man playing the viol, 19th century; (add.info.: Engraving depicting a man playing the viol. Dated 19th century 01/02/1884); Universal History Archive/UIG

Feasting and musicians, 1290. Creator: Unknown
Feasting and musicians, 1290. Page from the Beaupre Antiphonary, vol. 2

Orpheus Charming the Beasts. Creator: Unknown
Orpheus Charming the Beasts, Unknown date. Manner of Roelant Savery

Saint Cecilia Playing the Viol, c. 1616-1617. Creator: Domenichino (1581-1641)
Saint Cecilia Playing the Viol, c. 1616-1617. Found in the collection of the Musee du Louvre, Paris

Queen Elizabeth Dancing with the Earl of Leicester, 1581, (1942). Creator: Unknown
Queen Elizabeth Dancing with the Earl of Leicester, 1581, (1942). 16th century scene: Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester dance the volta as musicians play stringed instruments

The Triumphal Arch of Emperor Maximilian I of Germany (1459-1519): detail of central Gates of Honour and Power
XAM77566 The Triumphal Arch of Emperor Maximilian I of Germany (1459-1519): detail of central Gates of Honour and Power, left-hand column base embellished with bands of foliage

The Romantic Scene lock depicting a young man preventing his mistress from leaving the bedroom in bed
JLJ4643244 The Romantic Scene lock depicting a young man preventing his mistress from leaving the bedroom in bed. Painting by Jean-Honore Fragonard (1732-1806) 18th century. Dim. 0, 73x0, 93 m

The suicide of Lucretia, 1657 (oil on canvas)
JLJ4574651 The suicide of Lucretia, 1657 (oil on canvas) by Cagnacci, Guido (1601-63); 87x66 cm; Musee des Beaux-Arts, Lyon

Ms Hunter 229 f. 21v David tuning his harp, from the Hunterian Psalter, c. 1170 (pen & ink and tempera on vellum)
GUL174585 Ms Hunter 229 f.21v David tuning his harp, from the Hunterian Psalter, c.1170 (pen & ink and tempera on vellum) by English School, (12th century); 29.2x19.1 cm; Glasgow University Library

Ms Hunter 229 f. 21v Detail showing musicians, from the Hunterian Psalter, c. 1170 (pen & ink and tempera on vellum)
GUL174586 Ms Hunter 229 f.21v Detail showing musicians, from the Hunterian Psalter, c.1170 (pen & ink and tempera on vellum) by English School

Ms Hunter 229 f. 21v David tuning his harp, from the Hunterian Psalter, c. 1170 (pen & ink and tempera on vellum)
GUL175490 Ms Hunter 229 f.21v David tuning his harp, from the Hunterian Psalter, c.1170 (pen & ink and tempera on vellum) by English School, (12th century); 29.2x19.1 cm; Glasgow University Library

Essempio di recammi, page 12 (verso), 1530. Creator: Giovanni Antonio Tagliente
Essempio di recammi, page 12 (verso), 1530. Examples of Needlework by Giovanni Antonio Tagliente, first published in 1527, was one of the first textile pattern books to be issued in Italy

"Tho Doubting Castle be demolished, and the Giant Despair hath lost his
5615795 " Tho Doubting Castle be demolished, and the Giant Despair hath lost his Head" from The Pilgrims Progress From This World

A Personification of Music, Singing with Putti Playing a Viol and a Flute
990118 A Personification of Music, Singing with Putti Playing a Viol and a Flute, 1758 (oil on canvas) by Vien, Joseph-Marie

Portrait of a Musician, c. 1570-1590 (oil on canvas)
1217703 Portrait of a Musician, c. 1570-1590 (oil on canvas) by Italian School, (16th century); 75x56 cm; Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, UK; (add.info.: Anonymous)

Acrasia, c. 1888 (oil and gold paint on canvas)
PNH366435 Acrasia, c.1888 (oil and gold paint on canvas) by Strudwick, John Melhuish (1849-1937); 70.5x56.5 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Acrasia)

Ms 558 f. 67v St. Dominic surrounded by musician angels, detail from a Missal
BAT88938 Ms 558 f.67v St. Dominic surrounded by musician angels, detail from a Missal, early 1430s (vellum) (detail of 88937) by Angelico

The Virgin and Child with Two Angels, c. 1507 (oil on wood)
6336943 The Virgin and Child with Two Angels, c.1507 (oil on wood) by Cosimo, Piero di (c.1462-1521); Galleria di Palazzo Cini, Venice, Italy; Photo eFine Art Images; Italian, out of copyright

The Egg Dance (oil on panel)
1780705 The Egg Dance (oil on panel) by Brueghel, Pieter the Younger (c.1564-1638); 66.7x104.8 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; Flemish, out of copyright

Floods: the Chorus, c. 1631 (pen & ink on paper)
CTS407561 Floods: the Chorus, c.1631 (pen & ink on paper) by Jones, Inigo (1573-1652); eThe Devonshire Collections, Chatsworth; (add.info.: design for Chloridia)

Elder of the Apocalypse (w122) (stained glass)
941177 Elder of the Apocalypse (w122) (stained glass) by French School, (13th century); Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France; French, out of copyright

St. Cecilia and Two Angels, 1870s (stained glass)
MOK120182 St. Cecilia and Two Angels, 1870s (stained glass) by Burne-Jones, Edward Coley (1833-98); Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford, UK; Martyn O Kelly Photography; English, out of copyright

Arion Riding on the Dolphin (oil on panel)
AMO96922 Arion Riding on the Dolphin (oil on panel) by Bianchi Ferrari, Francesco (c.1460-1510); 71x52 cm; Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, UK; eAshmolean Museum; Italian, out of copyright

The San Giobbe Altarpiece, detail of angel playing music, c
FTB276359 The San Giobbe Altarpiece, detail of angel playing music, c.1487 (oil on panel) (detail of 55433) by Bellini, Giovanni (c.1430-1516); Gallerie dell Accademia, Venice

John Isaac Hawkins upright piano
John Isaac Hawkins claviole or finger-keyed viol, an upright piano. Copperplate engraving by Wilson Lowry after a drawing by J

Artwork by Florence Auerbach, boy playing violin
Artwork by Florence Auerbach, boy in a medieval tunic playing a violin. Date: late 19th century

Musical instruments of the Anglo-Saxons and Danes (engraving)
976412 Musical instruments of the Anglo-Saxons and Danes (engraving) by English School, (18th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Musical instruments of the Anglo-Saxons and Danes)

Detail of a page from De Proprietatibus Rerum by Bartholomeus Anglicus
488345 Detail of a page from De Proprietatibus Rerum by Bartholomeus Anglicus, in the French translation of Jean Corbechon, c.1390 (tempera on vellum) (see also 488340-47) by Remiet

Angel Musicians
3496132 Angel Musicians by Zenale, Bernadino (1460-1526); 61.8x62.3 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Bernardo Zenale-Angeli Suonatori di Viola da gamba 61, 8x62)

Ms 1-2005, f. 175v, from the Macclesfield Psalter, Use of Sarum, East Anglia, c
3590712 Ms 1-2005, f.175v, from the Macclesfield Psalter, Use of Sarum, East Anglia, c.1330 (pen & ink and tempera on vellum) by English School, (13th century); 17x6.2 cm; Fitzwilliam Museum

After Breakfast, 1601-50 (oil on canvas)
BFM286838 After Breakfast, 1601-50 (oil on canvas) by Duck, Jacob (c.1600-67); 75.7x62.8 cm; Schlossmuseum, Schloss Friedenstein, Gotha

Frontispiece of the Messes by Roland de Lassus (1532-94)
XIR182400 Frontispiece of the Messes by Roland de Lassus (1532-94), 1589 (woodcut) (b/w photo) by French School, (16th century); Private Collection; French, out of copyright

Concert of Angels from the Isenheim Altarpiece, c. 1512-16 (oil on panel)
XIR17670 Concert of Angels from the Isenheim Altarpiece, c.1512-16 (oil on panel) by Grunewald, Matthias (Mathis Nithart Gothart) (c.1480-1528); Musee d Unterlinden, Colmar, France

Coronation of the Virgin, altarpiece with a predella panel depicting angels playing
AII79968 Coronation of the Virgin, altarpiece with a predella panel depicting angels playing musical instruments, Florentine (panel) by Italian School, (14th century); Museo Nazionale del Bargello

Ms 558 f. 67v Page depicting St. Dominic and an historiated initial I
SCP79797 Ms 558 f.67v Page depicting St. Dominic and an historiated initial I from a gradual book from San Marco e Cenacoli (vellum) (for detail see 88937) by Angelico

The Cumean Sibyl, 1616 (oil on canvas)
AII135275 The Cumean Sibyl, 1616 (oil on canvas) by Domenichino (Domenico Zampieri) (1581-1641); Galleria Borghese, Rome, Lazio, Italy; Italian, out of copyright

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"Exploring the Melodies of Viol: A Journey through Art and Music" Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of viol, a captivating musical instrument that has inspired artists throughout history. From the Renaissance to the Romantic era, this 150-caption takes you on a visual and auditory voyage. Let's begin with "Mary, Queen of Heaven, " an exquisite oil painting from the late 15th century. In this masterpiece by an unknown artist, Mary is depicted holding a double-bass viol, symbolizing her divine connection to music and harmony. Moving forward in time, we encounter Arnold van Westerhout's copper engraving from 1723. This detailed artwork showcases a magnificent double-bass viol, beautifully crafted with intricate designs. The delicate engravings capture both the elegance and power of this instrument. In "A Concert of Angels, " an oil painting detail captures celestial beings playing viols amongst heavenly clouds. Their ethereal melodies transport us to another realm where music becomes a spiritual experience. Bernard Picart's "The Bass Viol Player" transports us back to early 18th-century France. The artist skillfully portrays a musician passionately playing his bass viol while surrounded by lush scenery. His devotion to his craft is palpable as he creates harmonies that resonate deep within our souls. Traveling further back in time, we witness Queen Elizabeth dancing with the Earl of Leicester in 1581. As they gracefully move across the dance floor accompanied by viols' gentle sounds, their elegant movements mirror the gracefulness of these instruments themselves. "The Finding of Moses" presents yet another depiction featuring viols amidst biblical scenes—a testament to their enduring presence throughout different historical contexts. Renaissance-style angels adorned with viols showcase how these instruments were not only appreciated by mortals but also revered among heavenly beings for their ability to create celestial melodies that uplifted spirits beyond earthly realms.