The Concert
- Artist: Peter Lely
- Date: late 1640's
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is “The Concert” by Peter Lely, painted in the late 1640s as an oil on canvas. The work captures a moment of musical gathering with a deft use of light and shadow that pulls the viewer into the scene. Lely’s brushwork is unmistakably careful: the strokes show a layered application of oil paint, creating a subtle glow on the instruments and the faces of the musicians. The palette is warm, with earthy reds, deep greens, and hints of gold that give the canvas a lively, yet restrained, color harmony typical of the era. The composition balances the figures across the frame, guiding the eye from the left to the right, with the central instrument acting as a focal point. The artist’s choice to use canvas allows for a smoother finish and a slightly flexible surface that enhances the subtle variations in tone. Overall, “The Concert” stands as a fine example of late 17th‑century oil painting, showcasing Lely’s mastery of texture, lighting, and composition within a modest, yet elegant, canvas format.
See it in person
The Concert hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
