A Concert
- Artist: Italian, Venetian
- Date: mid-1520s
- Medium: oil, originally on wood, transferred to canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "A Concert" painted in the Italian north. The three ladies are dressed in expensive clothes made from sumptuous silk and velvet, with extravagant sleeves and ornamentally plaited hair, all characteristic of the 1520s. The lady on the left holds a lute and turns to look at us as if we've disturbed their playing.
Her companion continues to play energetically, while the third lady remains unaware of our presence, holding up the music. However, it's not clear whether they're singing or not, but the score is written for the lute with no lyrics. This style of image became popular in northern Italy towards the end of the 15th century and was often depicted as a private moment.
The painting has been extensively damaged over time, particularly the ladies' faces and the lute, which were repainted extensively. The original wooden panel was later transferred to canvas in St Petersburg in 1868. Despite its condition, this work gives us a glimpse into the fashionable entertainment of the aristocracy during that era.
See it in person
A Concert hangs in The National Gallery on Trafalgar Square, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
