Jan Vermeulen
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Holland’s art life bloomed during the 17th Century. They had fought for independence and their own republic had been established, therefore art became an important factor in building up a national culture.
Everything relating to everyday life was painted, from the serious to the comical and burlesque. Artists often specialised on certain motifs and became very proficient. It was also the Dutch who invented the word “stilleben” - “still life”, meaning a picture of objects without the ability to move. It often depicts dead objects, but both living flowers and insects can be included.
The museums music still life is painted by Jan Vermeulen. On a lightly lilac coloured canvas and against a brown-green background of just colour so as not to disturb the motif itself, the artist has set up several objects: a violin, an alto lute, a heaven’s- or terrestrial globe, three wind-instruments, an open music book, some books, a bundle of documents and on the left, a pair of bellows. A strong ray of light shines down across the motif from the top left side, like at the theatre, a floodlight aimed down on the scene. If we look closely we see that the bow is stuck in under bridge of the violin. The instrument can’t be played!
The instruments’ task in the painting was not to symbolise a form of art, but to caution against an indolent and sinful life. There is also an object that shows a special meaning with the motif. Furthest back, behind the alto lute’s neck with the string pegs there is an hour-glass; one of the earliest symbols for life’s perishableness and the passage of time. It takes a while to find the hour-glass among all the beautiful instruments. One could liken the painting to a scene at the theatre, it is not until towards the end that the most important line comes. In this case: Don’t forget your mortality – consider the volatility of life!
