Oude man die op een luit speelt 1560 - 1563

Girolamo Mazzola Bedoli made this drawing of an old man playing a lute sometime in the 16th century. At this time in Italy, there was renewed interest in classical antiquity, and the lute was seen as a symbol of refinement and sophistication. Bedoli worked in Parma, where he contributed to the Mannerist style favored by the city's elites, though he was also deeply inspired by the classicism of Raphael and Correggio. Here, the use of light and shade creates a sense of drama, while the figure's elongated limbs and flowing drapery are characteristic of Mannerist art. Although this may seem like just a simple drawing of an old man playing an instrument, understanding the social and cultural context in which it was made helps us to appreciate the full meaning and significance of the artwork. To better understand its historical associations, researchers might look to archival records, period musical treatises, and other drawings by the artist.