Artwork
Woman Playing a Lute
Woman Playing a Lute is an oil painting by the Baroque artist Cornelis Bega. It dates from 1664 and is held in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery.
About this work
Overview
Cornelis Pietersz Bega, a Haarlem‑born painter active during the Dutch Golden Age, completed the oil painting Woman Playing a Lute in 1664. The work is part of the Uffizi Gallery’s collection and exemplifies Bega’s focus on intimate genre scenes that capture everyday moments.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a solitary woman seated on a chair, absorbed in playing a lute. She wears a flowing white robe with a muted gray shawl, her hair neatly pulled back, and looks toward her right. The surrounding objects, a small table with a book and assorted items, contribute to a tranquil, contemplative mood.
Technique & Style
Bega employs a restrained chiaroscuro, allowing the limited light to model the figure and suggest depth within the dim interior. The soft transitions between light and shadow give the scene a three‑dimensional quality while maintaining the modest palette typical of mid‑seventeenth‑century Dutch interiors.
History & Provenance
After its creation, the painting entered the Uffizi’s holdings, where it remains on display. Bega, a pupil of Adriaen van Ostade, produced works that often featured small groups or single figures in domestic settings, and this piece aligns with that established pattern.
Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis Pietersz Bega, or Cornelis Pietersz Begijn (1631/32 – 27 August 1664) was a Dutch Golden Age painter and engraver.
