Young woman dressed elegantly plays a lute. She wears a red velvet dress and a bonnet on her head, a gold ring on the finger of her right hand and a filigree necklace with an elaborately crafted pendant set with pearls and rubies. The lady looks at an open songbook on the table in front of her, which is covered with an ornamented carpet. The text of the verse is legible: "si j'ayme mon amy / trop, plus que mon mary / se n'est pas de mervelles" (if i love my friend more than my husband, no one is surprised). The poem was written by clément marot (1495?–1544) and published in 1529; the melody was composed by claudin de sermisy (ca. 1490–1562). The graceful, virtuous portrayal of the educated lute player contrasts with the clear reference to adultery. The precious vessel in the niche on the left is interpreted both as mary magdalene's ointment vessel and as a purely decorative element in the picture. (according to sandra pisot). Object Type: painting. Genre: portrait. Date: between circa 1520 and circa 1540. Dimensions: height: 37.5 cm (14.7 in) ; width: 26.8 cm (10.5 in). Medium: oil on oak panel. Collection: Hamburger Kunsthalle. Luthiste-maitre-figures
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