A Musician Playing a Lute to a Singing Girl

R�gnier is documented in Rome from 1620. His paintings from his Roman period are markedly Caravaggesque in subject matter and style. The subject of music in painting had always been represented since the 16th century but it was in Rome, at the time of Caravaggio, that these scenes changed dramatically and that music per se became the central theme of pictures. Here the lute-player and singer each play and sing convincingly, and R�gnier’s accuracy in depicting both the instrument and the musical scores is impressive.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 10 minutes):

Claudio Monteverdi: Charming Angioletta, madrigal