Viola Da Gamba Collection

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

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

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

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)

Angel Musicians, from the Concert of Angels from the Isenheim Altarpiece, c. 1512-16 (oil on panel)
XIR200076 Angel Musicians, from the 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

Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-87), 1841 (colour litho)
CHT271776 Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632-87), 1841 (colour litho) by Johannot, Tony (1803-52) (after); Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs, Paris

Michel de la Barre
3849612 Michel de la Barre by Bouys, Andre (1656-1749) (after); (add.info.: Michel de la Barre with friends - he is turning the page of his Sonates en Trio pour la flute traversiere)

Viol Player (Le joueur de viole). Creator: Alphonse Legros
Viol Player (Le joueur de viole)

Apollo and Marsyas, c. 1540. Creator: Michelangelo Anselmi
Apollo and Marsyas, c. 1540

Orpheus, c. 1515. Creator: Unknown
Orpheus, c. 1515

Bass Viol, from the Musical Instruments series (N82) for Duke brand cigarettes, 1888

Apollo with cupid. Found in the Collection of Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo, Brescia

Princess Anne Henriette of France (1727-1752). Artist: Nattier, Jean-Marc (1685-1766)
Princess Anne Henriette of France (1727-1752). Found in the collection of Musee de l Histoire de France, Chateau de Versailles

Allegory Nature Mother Art Nursemaid young man
Allegory of Nature as the Mother of Art, Allegory (Nature as the Nursemaid of Art), A young man and woman sitting in a landscape under a tree

Musical Company Allegorical music company left
Musical Company, Allegorical music company. On the left, a man plays oriental clothing and a turban on a viola da gamba. Next to him is a young man with a harp

A Violinist Flutist Playing Music together Musicians
A Violinist and a Flutist Playing Music together (The Musicians), In an interior a violinist and a flutist make music. The two musicians are seated at a table with different music books

David Leeuw Family David Leeuw 1631 32-1703 Amsterdam Merchant
David Leeuw with his Family David Leeuw with his Family David Leeuw (1631 / 32-1703). Amsterdam Merchant with his family, Family portrait of David Leeuw (1631 / 32-1703), merchant in Amsterdam

French viola da gamba, c1600, (1901). Illustration from The Connoisseur, (December 1901)

King Rene and his Musical Court, 15th century, (1870). Artist: Firmin, Didot & Co
King Rene and his Musical Court, 15th century, (1870). A miniature from the breviary of King Rene, in the Arsenal Library, Paris

German musicians, 16th century, (1870). Artist: Jost Amman
German musicians, 16th century, (1870). A wood engraving of musicians playing on the violin and bass viol. A wood engraving from The Arts of the Middle Ages and at the Period of the Renaissance

Madame Henriette de France in Court Costume Playing a Bass Viol, 1754. Artist: Jean-Marc Nattier
Madame Henriette de France in Court Costume Playing a Bass Viol, 1754

A Musical Party, 1677 (oil on canvas)
BAL29452 A Musical Party, 1677 (oil on canvas) by Hooch, Pieter de (1629-84); 83.5x68.5 cm; National Gallery, London, UK; Dutch, out of copyright

The Concert (oil on canvas)
XIR203224 The Concert (oil on canvas) by Bijlert or Bylert, Jan van (1603-71); 103x144 cm; Muzeum Narodowe, Warsaw, Poland; Dutch, out of copyright

Apollo (oil on canvas)
XIR180686 Apollo (oil on canvas) by Italian School, (17th century); 132x112 cm; Musee Massey, Tarbes, France; (add.info.: Greek and Roman god of the arts and archery; ); Italian, out of copyright

Still life with portrait of King Louis XIV (1638-1715) surrounded by musical instruments
XIR167871 Still life with portrait of King Louis XIV (1638-1715) surrounded by musical instruments, flowers and fruit, 1672 (oil on canvas) by Garnier

Hearing, Caspar Luyken, 1698 - 1702

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The viola da gamba, also known as the bass viol, has a rich and fascinating history in the world of music. Dating back to the 16th century, this instrument has captured the hearts of musicians and artists alike. In Bernard Picart's painting "The Bass Viol Player, " we see a musician passionately playing his instrument. The artist beautifully captures the elegance and grace with which this player handles his viola da gamba. Another notable depiction is found in "Queen Elizabeth Dancing with the Earl of Leicester. " This artwork from 1581 showcases Queen Elizabeth I herself dancing to the enchanting melodies produced by a skilled bass viol player. It highlights how highly regarded this instrument was during that era. Giovanni Antonio Tagliente's work, "Essempio di recammi, " provides us with an insight into how these instruments were crafted during their early days. The intricate details showcased on page 12 verso give us a glimpse into the craftsmanship involved in creating such beautiful instruments. A portrait titled "Portrait of a Musician" painted between 1570-1590 shows an unidentified musician holding a viola da gamba. This painting serves as evidence that these instruments were not only cherished for their musical qualities but also admired for their aesthetic appeal. Moving forward in time, we encounter Matthias Grünewald's masterpiece, "Angel Musicians. " These angelic figures are depicted playing various musical instruments including what appears to be a small-sized bass viol. This inclusion emphasizes its importance even within religious contexts. "The Concert of Angels" fresco further exemplifies how deeply rooted this instrument was in religious artistry during the Renaissance period. Its presence among other heavenly beings signifies its significance as an instrument capable of producing celestial sounds. Jean-Baptiste Lully, one of France's most renowned composers and conductors, is often associated with promoting and popularizing the use of viols within orchestras during his time.