Portrait of Three Musicians of the Medici Court
by GABBIANI, Anton Domenico, Oil on canvas, 141 x 208 cm
This canvas is one of a group of four paintings representing similar subject matter, painted by Gabbiani for the Grand Prince Ferdinando de’ Medici (1663-1713) for the villa at Pratolino. Ferdinando had a theatre built in the villa, where music composed specially for him was performed.
The identity of the musicians (a harpsichord player, a violinist and a singer) is not known. The musical instruments painted here correspond to those to be found in the vast collection which once belonged to the Grand Prince.