The lute player
1625
oil
From the collection of Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
1625
oil
From the collection of Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden
Dominant colour
The lute player is a 1625 oil by Adam de Coster, a Flemish Baroque painting work, held at Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden.
This painting shows a man in a black hat with feathers, wearing a red sleeve and a black vest. He is holding a lute, a stringed instrument, in his left hand and plucking it with his right. The background is dark, which makes the man and his lute stand out. The man's clothes and hat suggest he might be from a wealthy or artistic background. His focus on playing the lute implies he values music. If you're interested in learning more about the use of dark backgrounds to highlight subjects, you might want to look into the technique of chiaroscuro.
