[Violin] [Horace.]
Amphion and his Lyre - Original 1655 Engraving
Original engraving showing Amphion, the son of Zeus and the nymph Antiope, playing his lyre (which looks very much like a violin here!), his music causing stones to magically construct the citadel of Thebes. The caption below the image quotes Horace's Ars Poetica (translated from the Latin): "It’s said too that Amphion, who built Thebes’ citadel, / Moved stones at the sound of his lyre, and set them / Where he wished." Extracted from the volume "Tableaux du Temple des Muses tirez du Cabinet de Feu Mr. Favereau," edited by Michel de Marolles (1600–1681), published by Nicolas L'Anglois, Paris, 1655. Some foxing and light edge wear; overall in very good condition. 5.5 x 7.75 inches (14.3 x 19.8 cm).Amphion learnt to play music from the god Hermes and was given a beautiful golden lyre. He and his twin brother Zethus were said to have built the walls of Thebes: Amphion's magical music caused the stones to fly into position of their own accord. Amphion later married Niobe, the daughter of the Lydian king Tantalus. Because of this, he learned to play his lyre in the Lydian mode and added three strings to it! Although we now understand the Classical lyre to be a plucked instrument, it was generally depicted in the Baroque as a bowed instrument similar to a violin. (14415)
Art Classical Music