A Sunday Concert n.d.

James Bretherton created this etching titled "A Sunday Concert" in London in 1778, during a period of significant social change. The print depicts a group of musicians performing, but it also reveals much about the social life and class distinctions of the time. The image is full of visual cues that invite us to consider the cultural significance of music in 18th-century England. The concert setting is itself a display of affluence, of middle class or aristocratic status, with its well-dressed attendees and musicians. However, it is also a scene of social interaction, perhaps even flirtation, between performers and audience members, showing the concert hall as a social institution. Bretherton's print provides insight into the ways in which art and culture served as both a reflection of, and a commentary on, the social structures of his era. To fully understand the meaning of this print, one can consult sources from the period: newspapers, diaries, and books. These can give clues about the role of music in shaping the city’s cultural identity.