Painting of the Month

'The Ambassadors': Lute and Music

Musical instruments were often included in paintings as symbols of harmony, but this lute has a broken string and a flute is missing from the set in the case. This may be intended to reflect the discordant world of the ambassadors, where religious divisions were causing political strife.

De Selve spent much of his career working for reconciliation within the Church. The book between the instruments may present a plea for religious harmony. The hymns 'Veni Sancte Spiritus' (Come Holy Spirit) and the 'Ten Commandments' (translated from Latin into German by Martin Luther, leader of the Protestant Reformation in Germany), appear to have been specially selected. These hymns were used by both the Catholic and Protestant Churches.


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