On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P01487
- Author
- Dyck, Anton van (Flemish),
- Title
- Man with a Lute
- Chronology
- 1622-1632
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 128 cm x 100 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
In this more than half-length
portrait, a musician is shown in
profile with his face turned toward
the viewer. He holds a large,
long-necked lute or chitarrone and
is dressed in black. This, and the
dark background insure that only
the flesh tones and the white
collar and cuffs stand out.
The model has traditionally been
identified as Jacob Gaultier, a
lutenist at the English Court from
1617 to 1647, but the presence of a
sword and the work's stylistic
characteristics indicate that it
dates from before Van Dyck's trip
to London, which casts some doubt
on this attribution. The presence
of the musical instrument doesn't
necessarily indicate that the model
was a musician. As a courtly symbol
par excellence, music was often
alluded to in portraits as an
indication of intellectual
refinement and distinction.
There is no documentation of this
painting before 1734, when it was
listed among the paintings that
survived the fire at Madrid's
Alcázar Palace.
Location on the map
