A lute player (1596) by Caravaggio

A lute player - Caravaggio - 1596

Artwork Information

TitleA lute player
ArtistCaravaggio
Date1596
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions90 x 68 cm
Art MovementBaroque

About A lute player

The artwork titled “A Lute Player” was masterfully crafted by the eminent artist Caravaggio in 1596. This piece, rendered in oil on canvas, exemplifies the Baroque movement and falls under the genre of genre painting. Measuring 90 x 68 cm, the painting captures a moment of musical engagement, showcasing Caravaggio’s remarkable skill in evoking both realism and emotion within his works.

The artwork presents a young man, finely dressed in Renaissance attire, engrossed in playing a lute. The subject’s expressive face and focused demeanor convey a sense of devotion to his art, with his fingers poised delicately over the strings of the lute. A songbook rests on a table in the foreground, its pages open to suggest an ongoing musical performance or rehearsal. Caravaggio’s adept use of chiaroscuro – the contrast between light and dark – accentuates the figure and adds dramatic intensity to the scene, a hallmark of Baroque painting. The meticulous attention to detail in the textures of the fabric and the lute’s wood grain further showcases Caravaggio’s mastery in bringing everyday moments to life through his art.

Other Artwork from Caravaggio

More Baroque Artwork

Scroll to Top