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The Music of Vermeer with Kate Bolton-Porciatti

The Music of Vermeer with Kate Bolton-Porciatti


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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

Music is a pervasive subject in the works of Johannes Vermeer. Twelve of his paintings feature scenes of music-making: from raunchy gatherings in a tavern-brothel to intimate music lessons and solitary scenes at home where Vermeer paints music as a ‘balm for sorrow’.  

His exquisite depictions of 17th-century instruments include the cittern, guitar, harpsichord, lute, recorder, trumpet, viola da gamba and virginals: quite apart from the technical challenges they posed for artists, all these instruments had extra-musical connotations.  So, far from being merely frozen images of contemporary life, these scenes resonate with allegorical, symbolic or moralistic undertones, and Dutch emblem books were published to help decipher and explain their significance.  An understanding of musical symbols and metaphors, as well as the overtones of different musical instruments, is therefore fundamental to a fuller appreciation of Vermeer’s intention. 

Led by Kate Bolton-Porciatti, an expert on the relationships between music and art, this lecture will  bring to life Vermeer’s musical scenes through a selection of historically-informed performances that evoke the spirit of the time. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an enriched appreciation of the harmony of music and art in the Golden Age of Dutch painting.

Kate Bolton-Porciatti is a professor of Italian cultural history and music at the Istituto Lorenzo de'Medici in Florence, where she teaches BA and MA courses in the humanities. She also lectures at the British Institute, Florence, and at the Chigiana Music Academy in Siena. Kate has published extensively as an academic and a journalist; she is a music critic for BBC Music and a travel writer for The Daily Telegraph, UK. Before moving to Italy permanently in 2005, she was a senior producer and broadcaster for BBC Arts & Classical Music in London and has won prestigious Jerusalem and Sony Awards for her programs. She did her M.Phil. thesis in Italy, exploring the musical culture of early Renaissance Florence.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 5 reviews
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(5)
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h
harriet segal (Huntingdon Valley, US)
Vermeer

Fabulous

D
Deborah Shatin
For Music and Vermeer with Kate

10 out of 10. Couldn't have been a more perfect talk about music and Vermeer. We saw the exhibition a couple of weeks ago in Amsterdam. And had so many questions no one could answer but she did. Such as what were the paintings in the paintings.

Her speaking was easy to listed to and very well modulated.
She provided marvelous information and her talk was incredibly well organized.

She's probably the best speaker for any virtual class I've ever taken!!!! Kudos!!!

C
Christine Schlagheck (New York, US)
Vermeer/music in art

Kate always gives informative, insightful presentations… not to be missed!

d
deborah ash (New York, US)
Vermeer and music

Another wonderful experience with Kate!

A
Amy Hiatt

This was an interesting and well-presented lecture. It was wonderful to hear the music she selected while looking at the paintings. I learned a lot about Vermeer and other 17th century painters. Excellent seminar!

Customer Reviews

Based on 5 reviews
100%
(5)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
h
harriet segal (Huntingdon Valley, US)
Vermeer

Fabulous

D
Deborah Shatin
For Music and Vermeer with Kate

10 out of 10. Couldn't have been a more perfect talk about music and Vermeer. We saw the exhibition a couple of weeks ago in Amsterdam. And had so many questions no one could answer but she did. Such as what were the paintings in the paintings.

Her speaking was easy to listed to and very well modulated.
She provided marvelous information and her talk was incredibly well organized.

She's probably the best speaker for any virtual class I've ever taken!!!! Kudos!!!

C
Christine Schlagheck (New York, US)
Vermeer/music in art

Kate always gives informative, insightful presentations… not to be missed!

d
deborah ash (New York, US)
Vermeer and music

Another wonderful experience with Kate!

A
Amy Hiatt

This was an interesting and well-presented lecture. It was wonderful to hear the music she selected while looking at the paintings. I learned a lot about Vermeer and other 17th century painters. Excellent seminar!