Friday, January 11, 2013

Rose-Adélaïde Ducreux

French composer, musician and painter.
Rose’s paintings were displayed in several exhibits, beginning in the Paris Salon of 1791, the first year in which members of the public were permitted to display their own paintings. Her work was displayed in Paris in several exhibits for the rest of the decade, where they were received favorably.

Self portrait with a Harp at the Salon is a remarkable painting not only for its beauty but for the historical insight it provides. Rose stands, not playing the harp, but seemingly interrupted from the middle of tuning (she holds the tuning key in her right hand). Obviously painted by a someone intimately familiar with the instrument, the harp is depicted with red strings for C and dark strings for F, and with nearly photorealistic pedals. The strings are tied to the top of the harp in a slighty untidy, realistic way — how Rose must have tied her own instrument’s strings. The song laying on the table, “Tender Love”, suggests she also sings as she plays. (Read entire post.)
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