Recréation picturale d'une récréation musicale : le tableau de la famille Sharp par Zoffany - article ; n°1 ; vol.51, pg 273-280

Françoise Deconinck-Brossard

Description

XVII-XVIII. Bulletin de la société d'études anglo-américaines des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles - Année 2000 - Volume 51 - Numéro 1 - Pages 273-280
The portrait of the Sharp family by Zoffany raises several questions about the visual representation of sound. The elaborate composition focuses on a keyboard instrument that is difficult to identify, though it is probably a harpsichord to which a process of foreshortening has been applied. Such a design suggests that the painting highlights the social function of music rather than accurate depiction of musical practice. Similarly, it is almost impossible to find a repertoire for the orchestra represented here. Like many conversation pieces, the painting actually makes a statement about an affluent family that could afford to entertain aristocratic audiences with semi-public water parties performed on expensive musical instruments.
8 pages

Informations

• Publié par: SOCIETE_D-ETUDES_ANGLO-AMERICAINES
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2000
• Nombre de lectures: 9
• Langue: Français

Extrait

Françoise Deconinck-Brossard

Recréation picturale d'une récréation musicale : le tableau de la

famille Sharp par Zoffany

In: XVII-XVIII. Bulletin de la société d'études anglo-américaines des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles. N°51, 2000. pp. 273-

280.

Abstract

The portrait of the Sharp family by Zoffany raises several questions about the visual representation of sound. The elaborate

composition focuses on a keyboard instrument that is difficult to identify, though it is probably a harpsichord to which a process of

foreshortening has been applied. Such a design suggests that the painting highlights the social function of music rather than

accurate depiction of musical practice. Similarly, it is almost impossible to find a repertoire for the orchestra represented here.

Like many conversation pieces, the painting actually makes a statement about an affluent family that could afford to entertain

aristocratic audiences with semi-public water parties performed on expensive musical instruments.

Citer ce document / Cite this document :

Deconinck-Brossard Françoise. Recréation picturale d'une récréation musicale : le tableau de la famille Sharp par Zoffany. In:

XVII-XVIII. Bulletin de la société d'études anglo-américaines des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles. N°51, 2000. pp. 273-280.

doi : 10.3406/xvii.2000.1528

http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/xvii_0291-3798_2000_num_51_1_1528

Illustration non autorisée à la diffusion