Baschenis

Biography

Evaristo Baschenis (* 4. December 1617 in Bergamo, Italy; † 15. March 1677 ebenda, Italy) was an Italian baroque painter who, as a highly specialized specialist, devoted himself almost exclusively to the depiction of stringed instruments. The nearby Cremona, famous centre of violin and lute making, provided the models. But unlike in Dutch painting, Baschenis does not have such an allegorical and admonishing sense - musical instruments were often used there as symbols of the sense of hearing, and the transience of the tones reminded us of transience -, the Italian's emphasis is more on decorative and aesthetic aspects, which follows from the peculiar elaboration of the painterly and ornamental qualities of the instruments.