Trombone History: Two Very Different Images

Added the following images, quite a bit different in character, to the 17th Century (first half) and 19th Century (2nd half) timelines, respectively. The similarity, of course, is that they both include a trombone.

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Balen banquet detailc. 1610—Antwerp, Belgium: Hendrick van Balen’s painting, The Banquet of the Gods, includes a trombone resting on the ground among several other instruments (see bottom right of facing detail; public domain image). For other paintings by the same artist that include trombone, see c. 1615 and c. 1625.

French-Natl-Guard1858—London, England: An illustration of the band of the French National Guard published in London’s Illustrated Times includes trombone (see facing image; public domain).

Trombone History: Trombone in Mixed Consort

Added the below image and caption to the 16th Century Timeline. One never knows how literal these depictions are, but the artist groups together an interesting combination of instruments. Another consort performs at a table in the background.

Tempestac. 1585—Italy: An engraving by Antonio Tempesta entitled The Concert features a trombone performing with a mixed consort of strings, winds, and keyboard (see facing image; public domain).

Trombone History: More Trombone Iconography

Added the below image and info to the 16th Century Trombone History Timeline. The artist, Cornelis Court, was well known for making engravings that were copies of pre-existing artworks. In this case, the engraving is after a work by Flemish Renaissance artist Frans Floris. The image, which is obviously symbolic, features a relatively small-looking trombone hanging on the upper right area of the wall. It is nearly impossible to tell, and artists are often less than literal, but the instrument could be an alto trombone. (Compare it proportionally, for example, with the other instruments nearby.)

Cort1565—Musica, an engraving by Dutch artist Cornelis Cort from a series called the Seven Liberal Arts (after works by Frans Floris) includes a small trombone hanging on a wall in the background (see facing image; public domain) (Burgers 99).

Trombone History: Trombone Among the Angels

A few months ago I added the following painting and entry to the Trombone History Timeline (18th century):

St. Lawrence1704—Tönning, Germany: A painted ceiling by Barthold Conrath at the Church of St. Lawrence depicts a group of angels playing wind instruments and percussion, including a jubilant angel-trombonist on the far left (see above image; public domain) (Bowles, The Timpani 167).

Toenning_laurentius_orgelSince then I have also come across this wikimedia image (public domain) showing a wider view of the interior of the church. The group of musicians pictured originally in the black and white detail is directly above the organ (but not suspended in the clouds). Click on the picture for a larger image.

What’s a little surprising about the painting, in my opinion, is its relatively late date (1704). The majority of similar visual depictions of trombonists among angel musicians–at least those I have been able to locate–originate from the previous two centuries. See 16th Century and 17th Century.