from “Virgen de los Ángeles”, Diego Valentín Díaz, c.1615
(1615/ca) - Valladolid: Church of San Miguel y San Julián.
instrument: vihuela de arco | century: 16cent | catalogue nº: 17-124b
Artwork
Creator Díaz, Diego Valentín
Medium Artwork: Painting
Location
City Valladolid | Region Castilla-León | Old kingdom Castile
Characteristics
| Body Corners | Strings 4 strings | Neck Long | Pegbox R/Angled flat |
| Bridge Fixed | Frets No | Back Flat | Pegs Rear |
| Technique Bowed a braccio |
Commentary
ARTWORK
“Virgen de los Ángeles”. Oil on Canvas. Diego Valentín Díaz ((Valladolid 1586-Valladolid 1660). 246 x 206 cm. Iglesia de San Miguel y San Julián (Valladolid).
One of the five bowed and plucked stringed instruments in the painting. The full painting is given as 17-124.
INSTRUMENT
Vihuela de arco with cornered waists, probably quite antiquated by the time of the painting. The body has a circular sound hole and a flat bridge, and some evidence of C-holes near the bridge and on the upper bouts. It also has a lute-styled pegbox as more commonly seen in some late 15th-century Italian instruments, although the pegs enter from the rear. The bow is held from below, as a violin, but must necessarily bow all the strings. This evidence suggests that it may have been copied from an earlier example.