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The Attractions of Music

Unknown

1680

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Baroque Patna School of Painting Baroque Genre Scene

Dominant colour

The Attractions of Music is a 1680 unspecified by Unknown, a Baroque work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1680 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows a man sitting on the ground, playing a stringed instrument. Around him, strange animals and people gather—some look like deer with human faces, others like half-animal, half-human creatures. Birds and mythical beasts fill the scene, while the background has swirling clouds and trees. The colors are bright but faded, with golds, pinks, and blues standing out against a dark border. Notice how the people and animals seem to float in a dreamy space, as if music is pulling them together. The edges of the painting are decorated with intricate patterns, almost like a frame within a frame. If you like this wild mix of creatures and fantasy, look up Baroque.