The artwork titled “A Luteplayer Carousing With A Young Woman Holding A Roemer” is an oil on canvas painting by Hendrick Terbrugghen, a practitioner of the Tenebrism art movement. The dimensions of the painting are 105.5 cm in height and 86.4 cm in width, and it falls under the genre painting category. Currently, this work is part of a private collection.
The painting depicts an intimate scene between a man and a woman. The man, to the right, is dressed in clothing suggestive of the 17th century, including a large feather in his cap and a richly colored red garment with a slash of white fabric, while playing a lute. He leans towards the young woman, engaging her with a warm, inviting expression. The woman, depicted on the left, gazes back at the man with a smile and half-closed eyes, suggesting a shared moment of amusement or affection. She holds a roemer, a type of glassware, in her left hand, possibly toasting or participating in the merriment. Both characters are illuminated prominently against a dark background, a characteristic feature of Tenebrism that creates a dramatic contrast of light and shadow, directing focus to the interaction between the two figures and the expressions on their faces. The brushwork captures the textures of the fabrics and the subtle nuances of the subjects’ complexions, demonstrating Terbrugghen’s skill in rendering lifelike images and capturing a moment of conviviality.
