Caravaggio
Caravaggio's The Lute Player exists in three versions: one in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, the second currently in a private collection and the third from the private Wildenstein Collection. Today, we present the last one. Three paintings of almost the same dimensions depict a boy with soft facial features and unusually thick brown hair, pouting lips, a half-open mouth, and a pensive expression beneath sharply drawn broad eyebrows. His white shirt is open at the front, revealing the artist's intention to paint a nude. A ribbon woven into the figure's hair emphasizes its almost androgynous features. The same applies to a broad yoke that divides his shirt under his chest like a woman's dress. Recently it has been suggested that the model was a castrato. Light falls from a high window above left, creating a narrow triangle of brightness in the upper right-hand corner. The brightly illuminated figure stands out boldly against the shadowy background.
P.S. We would like to remind you of our beautiful 2024 DailyArt Calendars and that Caravaggio is featured in one of them! You can check them out in the DailyArt Shop!
P.P.S. Caravaggio was an iconic painter of the Baroque. Get to know his art through 10 of his marvelous paintings! Below you'll find even more articles about his art!