Lute or Tiorbino
Unknown Artist
c. 1620
Medium
wood
Dimensions
100.7 × 27.7 cm
Classification
Musical Instrument
Department
Decorative Art and Design
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Charles G. King Jr. collection; Gift of Ralph King in memory of Charles G. King Jr.
Accession Number
1918.368
About this artwork
The lute was the most important musical instrument in secular settings throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. Not only a virtuoso instrument with a huge repertoire, the lute provided the ideal accompaniment for the voice, played an essential role in ensembles, figured in masques and operas, and was played by amateurs as well as professionals. A highly specialized instrument, this tiorbino is a type of long-necked lute resembling a theorbo, but significantly smaller and pitched an octave higher....