A Woman seated at a Table and a Man tuning a Violin

The woman holds a sheet of music. Her companion is tuning his violin. On the table is a viola da gamba. A carved figure of Atlas is beside the fireplace. Such scenes of men and women making music are often interpreted as metaphors for the harmony of love.

The same models appear in the so-called 'Lovers at Breakfast' (Dresden), painted in 1661, and this picture was probably painted shortly before.

Metsu, a native of Leiden, is said to have been trained by Gerrit Dou.