19. Crispin van de Passe, the Elder
Elder (ca. 1565-1636)

Orpheus

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van de Passe, Orpheus

Orpheus

Engraving from 4 Principes Musicae, 1602, 211 x 155 mm., Franken 969 only state, ex collection: Meredith Read, 3d (not in Lugt). Brilliant impression on laid paper trimmed just outside the borderline and with the complete text below. Orpheus, surrounded by animals, plays a viola da braccio with a carved head instead of a scroll. Of interest to string players is that the index finger of his right hand rests on the hair of the slightly curved bow in order to loosen or tighten the tension at will. Read’s immodest collector’s mark is, unfortunately, recto as well as verso on the impression.