A Musical Party
- Artist: Caspar Netscher
- Date: after 1665
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The National Gallery
- Collection record: The National Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is "A Musical Party" painted in the Netherlands after 1665. The original of this painting was done by Caspar Netscher, but this is one of several copies made of it.
As you can see, the scene depicts a group of young people gathered around music and playing instruments. The young man on the left plays the theorbo with total concentration, his face almost angelic in its serenity. At the table next to him, there's another young man leaning forward, gazing at a young woman in brown.
The question is: what are they doing here? Are they enjoying music together, or is this just an opportunity for flirtation? The way the second young man looks at the woman in brown suggests a secret glance. Does she even notice him, or is she lost in her own world of music?
Note how Netscher captured the texture and pattern of the exotic carpet, as well as the delicate folds of the white satin gown worn by the seated girl. But what's striking is that the young man opposite doesn't seem to be looking at her at all. His eyes have wandered elsewhere.
In fact, you can see another woman in the painting, wearing a darker colour and having her neck cut low. Perhaps it's not just a coincidence that she's the focus of his attention. Whatever we make of this scene, one thing is clear: "A Musical Party" invites us to interpret, make stories, and discuss its meaning.
See it in person
A Musical Party 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.
