Vihuela. Detail from an early 16th century Catalan (Spanish) painting, "St. Vincent enthroned with music making angels", by the Master of Javierre. Painting is located in the Museo Diocesano, Lérida.
Lérida: Museo Diocesano.
instrument: vihuela de mano | century: 16cent/1/early | catalogue nº: 16-139
Artwork
Creator Maestro de Javierre
Medium Artwork: Painting
Location
City Lérida | Region Catalonia | Old kingdom Aragon
Characteristics
| Body Corners | Strings 3 strings | Neck Long | Pegbox Angled flat |
| Bridge Fixed | Frets Yes | Back Flat | Pegs None |
| Technique Plucked fingers thumb out |
Commentary
ARTWORK
One of the four instruments in the painting. See 16-137. This is one of the two vihuelas painted on the finiuals on each side of the back of the throne on which St Vincent sits (16-138; 16-139). Woodfield describes this picture as having “two tiny grotesque figures appear squatting on the back of the saint’s throne and playing exceptionally long-necked vihuelas”
INSTRUMENT
One of the four instruments in the painting. this vihuela is being played left-handed. It is more detailed than its pair 16-138. The soundbox has cornered waists, a central soundhole (covered by the player’s hand) and a fixed bridge at the lower end of the body. It was a long neck, finishing with a flat angled pegbox. The monochrome depiction (as if depicting a carved wooden image) shows three or four strings, seven double [?] frets but without detail of the tuning pegs. The instrument is played with a thumb-out technique.
IMAGE
goodwin 2017