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Angel playing the Guitar. Juan Ribalta (Valencia, 1625-1627)

(1625) - Valencia, Museu de Belles Arts
instrument: vihuela de mano / guitarra | century: 17cent/1/early | catalogue nº: 17-134

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Artwork

Creator Ribalta, Juan

Medium Artwork: Painting

Location

City Valencia | Region Valencia | Old kingdom Aragon

Characteristics
Body Waisted Strings Unclear Neck Short Pegbox Angled flat
Bridge Fixed Frets Unclear Back Flat Pegs Unclear
Technique Plucked fingers equal p+i
Commentary

ARTWORK
“Virgen of Portacaeli”, altarpiece painting for the Carthusian Monastery of Porta Coeli in Serra (comarca de Tiuria, Valencia). The painting depicts the Virgin and Child surrounded by a large group of Angels and cherubs. Painted by Juan Ribalta between 1625 and 1627. Oil on canvas, 240 x 172 cm. The drawing of this painting is 17-133. The grop of angels surrounding the central figures of the Virgin and Child are playing several musical instruments including the guitar catalogued here, a lute and a violin. Full painting URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ribalta-virgen_de_portacoeli.jpg

INSTRUMENT
The instrument has a large sized body consistent with a guitar of the early 17th century, with fixed bridge and round sound hole. The only feature that links it more to 16th-century vihuelas is the thinness of the body (less thin in the drawing (➞17-133). Given its size, it is more likely to be a guitar.

Image Copyright: public domain

Reproductions

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ribalta-virgen_de_portacoeli.jpg

Bibliography