Music's allegory 

Vieira Portuense painted this allegory of music portraying a beautiful young woman with a violin and sheet music. She is a muse, one of the nine daughters of Zeus who inspire artists with music, dance, and song. The violin she holds has roots in the medieval rebec, a bowed string instrument of the Byzantine Empire. As it migrated westward, the rebec evolved in form and function, appearing in the hands of troubadours and street performers alike. The instrument's ability to express emotion struck a chord in the collective psyche of Europe, becoming a potent symbol of passion. The image of the muse herself, with her knowing gaze and flowing drapery, evokes the classical ideal, yet the instrument she holds represents a more earthly, human form of expression, a powerful force, engaging us at a deep level, beyond words. Like the myth of Orpheus charming wild beasts, this artwork reminds us of music's uncanny ability to stir our souls, a power that continues to evolve and resonate through time.