Orpheus playing the vihuela
(1536) - Luis Milán, El Maestro.
instrument: vihuela de mano | century: 16cent/2/mid | catalogue nº: 16-216
Artwork
Creator Díaz Romano, Francisco
Medium Artwork: Woodcut
Location
City Valencia | Region Valencia | Old kingdom Aragon
Characteristics
| Body Waisted | Strings 6 strings | Neck Long | Pegbox Angled flat |
| Bridge Fixed | Frets Yes | Back Not visible | Pegs Rear |
| Technique Plucked fingers thumb in |
Commentary
ARTWORK
Frontsipiece of Luis Milán El Maestro, Valencia, 1536. It is not known if the print was intended in any way to be a portrait of Milán. It depicts the legendary Orpheus, surrounded by awe-struck birds and animals. He is dressed in a Grecian tunic, but placed in a contemporary landscape with a modern castle in the background. In the border of the woodcut is the inscription “El grande Orpheo, primero inventor / Por quien la vihuela paresce enel mundo / Si él fue primero, no fue sin segundo / Pues Dios es de todos, de todo hazedor. [The great Orpheus, first inventor / by whom the vihuela appeared in the world / If he were the first, he was not without a second / for is God is of all, the creator of all.]
INSTRUMENT
6-course vihuela, Depicted with single strings, but 10 pegs. Single rosette near neck, Inlaid taraceas on soundboard: four large and three small. The bridge is glued close to the bottom of the soundboard, the instrument has a flat pegbox, etc. Large body and long neck.
Wikimedia commons:
colour image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:El_maestro_-_orfeo.jpg
detail:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vihuela_-_Frontispiece_Libro_de_música_de_vihuela_de_mano_intitulado_El_maestro_by_Luis_Milan.jpg