The Food of Love

“If music be the food of love, play on.”––William Shakespeare; “Twelfth Night”

Music is at the heart of a few great works featured in our upcoming sale in France, entitled, Tableaux anciens et du XIXe siècle. A Caravaggesque painting, Young Man in a Plumed Hat Playing a Lute, recently attributed to the Dutch painter Willem Bartsius, is well paired with Michel Garnier’s vividly colored genre scene, The Young Musician. Jacob Van Oost’s Les Musiciens, reveals the ecstasy of a lively performance through the musician’s skyward gaze.

Through these works, we get a rare glimpse into 19th century fashion, culture, and religious devotion.

Tableaux anciens et du XIXe siècle takes place on April 1, 2014 at Christie’s in Paris.

Image: MICHEL GARNIER (SAINT-CLOUD 1753-1829 VERSAILLES) La jeune musicienne  signé et daté 'Mchel Garnier/1788.' (au centre à droite)  huile sur toile, non rentoilée  46 x 38 cm. 

(Image courtesy of Christie’s)