Apollo Conducting the Orchestra of Putte

Guarana’s painting decorates the music room (Sala della Musica) of the Ospedaletto church. The room was used for concerts by the girls in the orphanage of Santa Maria Derelitti, an institution that offered an exceptional musical training, with teachers like the composers Domenico Cimarosa and Niccolò Porpora. Its all-female orchestra was however, less celebrated than that of the Conservatorio della Pietà, which was directed by Antonio Vivaldi.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 9 minutes):

Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto in C major RV 180 (Il Piacere, The Pleasure)