Studio of David Teniers the Younger, 'Peasants making Music in an Inn', about 1635
About the work
Overview
An old man playing a lute and wearing a bright blue and yellow minstrel’s outfit is the focus of this gloomy tavern scene by a follower of David Teniers the Younger. He hunches over in concentration as he tunes the strings; to the left, an old woman holds up sheet music, her mouth slightly open as if ready to sing.
Two books of songs – one inscribed ‘BASO’, for the bass voice part – lie on the table; it’s unclear whether the man peering over the woman’s shoulder is the bass part of the musical trio or just a curious audience.
A small owl watches from a window. It’s naturalistic enough, but is most likely a symbolic device, possibly indicating sinfulness. Another cryptic detail is the curling piece of paper tacked above the hearth, which shows a sketched portrait of a sitter whose profile is much like that of the man standing below.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Peasants making Music in an Inn
- Artist
- Studio of David Teniers the Younger
- Artist dates
- 1610 - 1690
- Date made
- about 1635
- Medium and support
- oil on wood
- Dimensions
- 29.1 × 36.2 cm
- Acquisition credit
- Bequeathed by Lord Farnborough, 1838
- Inventory number
- NG154
- Location
- Not on display
- Collection
- Main Collection
- Previous owners
Provenance
Perhaps in the W. van Huls (†) sale, London, 6 ff. August, 1722 (114) bt. Sir I. Eyles for £44 2sh. Coll. T. Bradford by 1764, when engraved; Thomas Bradford sale, Hobbs, 7 February ( = 2nd day), 1765 (33). Perhaps in one or some of the following sales: Dewick sale, Burnsall, 3 March, 1766 (20/21); Robert Ansell sale, Walsh, 24 March, 1775 (45); Robert Heathcote sale, Phillips, 6 April ( = 2nd day), 1805 (72) £50; or Anon. sale, Christie’s, 4 May, 1805 (59) bt. Churchill £23 2sh.; Anon. sale, Phillips, 27 June, 1807 (62); Anon. ( = Delahante and others), Phillips, 3 March, 1810 (62). Coll. the Rt. Hon. C. Long (later Lord Farnborough) by 1818, when lent to the B.I. (107); exh. B.I. 1835 (31); Lord Farnbourgh Bequest 1838; lent to the City Art Gallery, Leeds, 1934; and, through the Arts Council, to the Municipal Art Gallery and Museum, Wolverhampton, 1952–4.
Additional information
Text extracted from the ‘Provenance’ section of the catalogue entry in Gregory Martin, ‘National Gallery Catalogues: The Flemish School: circa 1600–circa 1900’, London 1986; for further information, see the full catalogue entry.
Bibliography
-
1830
J. Smith, A Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of the Most Eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French Painters: In Which is Included a Short Biographical Notice of the Artists, with a Copious Description of Their Principal Pictures […], vol. 2, London 1830
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1970G. Martin, The Flemish School, circa 1600-circa 1900, London 1970
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1978R.D. Leppert, 'David Teniers the Younger and the Image of Music', Jaarboek van het Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerpen, 1978, pp. 63-155
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1980J.P. Davidson, David Teniers the Younger, London 1980
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1986Martin, Gregory, National Gallery Catalogues: The Flemish School, circa 1600 - circa 1900, London 1986
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1990J. van Damme, 'De Antwerpse tafereelmakers en hun merken: Identificatie en betekenis', Jaarboek van het Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerpen, XIX, 1990, pp. 193-236
-
2001
C. Baker and T. Henry, The National Gallery: Complete Illustrated Catalogue, London 2001
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.
Images
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