Jan de Bray (Haarlem 1627-1697 Amsterdam)

The function of this charming drawing remains unknown. Representing a musical company in an architectural surround, supported by putti and surmounted by statues of Apollo and the Muses Euterpe, Thalia and Terpsichore, it may be a design for a standard, or perhaps a study for the frontispiece of a membership book for a music society. The latter seems unlikely, however, as such societies at this date were informal gatherings without official membership lists. Perhaps the drawing was simply executed as a gift for friends of the artist. The combination of instruments shown is typical for ensembles of the period and the double-headed lute played by the lady on the left is characteristic of Holland and England at this date, although de Bray’s representation of the strings is rather odd: he shows them tapering to a point at the base of the soundboard, rather than being secured by a wide band.