The Lute Player and the Singer

Israhel van Meckenem

National Gallery of Art

The image shows two individuals, a woman and a man. The woman is seated, facing the man, with her head slightly tilted and her hands positioned as if she is accepting or examining an object given by the man. She has a serene expression, a soft-featured face, and is wearing a headdress covering her hair. She wears a long gown with ample sleeves and sits on a bench against a wall. The man is standing or leaning against the wall with one foot raised on a platform. He is playing a lute, looking at the woman. He has curly hair, wears a hat, a tunic, leggings, and holds a stick. In the foreground, a dog sits with a leash on the ground. The background shows an archway, a closed door with a lion-head knocker, and a round object on the wall. The image is in an engraved style, emphasizing textures in clothing and architecture.