Artwork
Muse with Lute
Muse with Lute is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Jacopo Tintoretto. It dates from 1550 and is held in the collection of the Führermuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The inclusion of this musical instrument serves as the primary iconographic element that defines her identity within the genre of mythological painting.
The painting depicts a nude female figure identified as a Muse, a subject drawn from classical mythology. As a mythological work, the figure is characterized by her association with the arts, specifically represented by the lute she holds. The inclusion of this musical instrument serves as the primary iconographic element that defines her identity within the genre of mythological painting.
The work represents the idealization of the artistic muse, combining the human form with the symbols of creative inspiration.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1550, this mythological work by Jacopo Tintoretto is an oil painting on canvas. The composition features a nude figure, consistent with the genre of mythological painting. Surviving records indicate variations in the measured dimensions, with height cited between 119 and 127 centimeters and width ranging from 82 to 84 centimeters. The piece is classified formally as a painting within the museum collection.
History & Provenance
The Muse with Lute is dated to circa 1550, reflecting Jacopo Tintoretto’s mid‑century mythological output. Executed in oil on canvas, the work entered the historical record as part of the Führermuseum collection assembled during the Second World War. After the conflict it was identified for restitution and transferred to the Stichting Nederlands Kunstbezit, the Dutch foundation responsible for recovering looted art. Subsequently the painting was incorporated into the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it remains today.
Overview
Created circa 1550, Muse with Lute is an oil on canvas by the Venetian painter Jacopo Tintoretto. The work belongs to the Mannerist phase of the Italian Renaissance and is currently held in the Rijksmuseum’s collection. It presents a solitary female figure engaged with a lute, rendered with Tintorettian vigor and compositional drama.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacopo Robusti (late September or early October 1518 – 31 May 1594), best known as Tintoretto ( TIN-tə-RET-oh; Italian:; Venetian: ), was an Italian Renaissance painter of the Venetian school.
