Music in Art Part I: Divine harmony

Magical lecture at in the Supporters’ House at the National Gallery looking at how music is depicted in paintings of the 13th to 15th centuries.

Belle Smith talked us though a selection of paintings from the gallery, describing the instruments which are shown and playing examples of the sound they would have made. She also looked at how music changed in this period moving from plainsong to polyphonic works.

She discussed how the music shown in the works reflected theological ideas not necessarily the music would have been heard in the services in which the paintings would have been seen. In particular paintings of the Coronation of the Virgin which show ideas of divine harmony.

It was lovely follow the talk by going up to the first floor of the Sainsbury Wing to look at the works which had been discussed.

This was the first of a series of talks on music and art and I hope to get some of the rest.

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