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Jan Olis, 'A Musical Party', 1633

About the work

Overview

There is no doubting who is the star of this group of musicians. The fair-haired woman in a bright pink dress with gold-trimmed sleeves and elaborate lace collars is clearly the centre of our attention. She is bathed in sunlight which also catches the curves and polished surface of her viola da gamba. The other musicians around the table wear far more muted colours and are mostly cast in shadow.

What we see now is probably only an edited version of the original composition. The figure of a boy removing a flask from a wine cooler was painted out in 1969–70; at the time it was considered to be a later addition, but it is now believed to have been painted by Olis himself. Reinstating the boy would reintroduce a very subtle hint that such innocent gatherings are always vulnerable to the corrupting influence of alcohol.

Key facts

Details

Full title
A Musical Party
Artist
Jan Olis
Artist dates
about 1610 - 1676
Date made
1633
Medium and support
oil on wood
Dimensions
36.7 × 52.8 cm
Inscription summary
Signed; Dated
Acquisition credit
Presented by Alfred A. de Pass, 1920
Inventory number
NG3548
Location
Not on display
Collection
Main Collection

About this record

If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.

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