books0977:The Jew’s Harp (c.1808). David Wilkie (Scottish, 1785-1841). Oil on panel. Sudley Ho
books0977:The Jew’s Harp (c.1808). David Wilkie (Scottish, 1785-1841). Oil on panel. Sudley House.A Jew’s harp is a small lyre-shaped musical instrument held in the teeth and struck with the finger. A man plays the harp to two children and a dog, in a cottage interior. Through subtly capturing the minute details of gesture and expression, Wilkie was able to suggest character and situation in a memorable and natural-seeming way. Sir David Wilkie RA (18 November 1785 – 1 June 1841) was a Scottish painter, especially known for his genre scenes. He painted successfully in a wide variety of genres, including historical scenes, portraits, including formal royal ones, and scenes from his travels to Europe and the Middle East. His main base was in London, but he died and was buried at sea, off Gibraltar, returning from his first trip to the Middle East. He was sometimes known as the “people’s painter”. -- source link
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