Attributes of Music

François Bonvin

Cleveland Museum of Art

The painting "Attributes of Music" by François Bonvin depicts a still life with various musical elements. The main objects include a lute with a long neck and a round body, resting on its side with the neck pointing upwards to the right. The lute has a circular emblem on its body. A sheet music page, slightly torn and rumpled, stands behind and to the right of the lute. In front of the lute lies a flute or similar woodwind instrument. To the left of the lute are two white roses. The background is dark, with a lighter area to the right that may suggest a wall or partition. The overall color palette is subdued, with earth tones dominating the scene. The artist's signature and the year "1863" are visible on the right edge of the canvas.