Trombone
It’s not quite as odd as the title sounds. I just added the below caption and image to the post, Serpent & Ophicleide: History and Images.
c. 1790—London, England: An engraving depicts a regiment of Foot Guards in front of St. James’s Palace. Included among the soldier-musicians is a serpent player (see below detail; public domain; Strachan, British Military Uniforms, pl. 27) (Scottish United Services Museum).
I just added the below image and caption to the post, Serpent & Ophicleide: History and Images, bringing the total number of images on that post to 81. The angel’s playing position is interesting—makes the instrument almost look like a bari sax!
1704-14—Saalfeld, Germany: Carlo Ludovico Castelli paints an angel playing a serpent in Saalfeld’s Schlosskapelle (see below image; public domain).
I just added the below image and entry to the post, Serpent & Ophicleide: History and Images.
mid-19th century—Brussels, Belgium: A catchpenny print entitled Afbeeldingen van soldaten (Images of Soldiers), produced by Hemeleers-Van Houter, includes a musician playing serpent (see below detail; public domain) (Catchpenny Prints of the Dutch Royal Library).
Yesterday I added the below entry and image to the Trombone History Timeline (17th century—2nd half). I will also be adding it to the article Backward Advances: Rear-Facing Trombones Throughout History, as well as the blog post Serpent & Ophicleide: History and Images (notice the serpent on the far right of the full image).
c. 1660—Pierre Paul Sevin’s drawing of a performance of a mass for 4 choirs includes what appears to be a group of 3 trombones, including at least one rear-facing instrument (see facing detail and full image below; public domain) (Marx, The Instrumentation of Handel’s Early Italian Works).
I just added the below image and caption to the Trombone History Timeline (17th century—2nd half). Elsewhere I have posted numerous examples of trombonists perched on organ pipes, but I believe this is the first picture I’ve added with a trombone on organ shutters. Included below but not in the timeline is a view of the full organ pipes and shutters.
1686—Amsterdam, Netherlands: The organ for Amsterdam’s Westerkerk (west church) is built. Included on the organ shutters painted by Gerard de Lairesse (1641-1711) is a depiction of a trombone (see detail and full image below; public domain).
This morning I added the below image and caption to the ever-expanding post, Serpent & Ophicleide: History and Images. There are now 77 pictures there, with more on the way. Enjoy!
1865—A satirical cartoon titled “The serpent starting to tempt the woman once again,” printed in Le monde illustré, features a woman playing a dragon-belled serpent (see below image; public domain) (Le monde illustré, 9, no. 442; Sept 30 1865).
Just added this painting to the Trombone History Timeline (16th century). Trastevere is a neighborhood in Rome, and this church is said to be one of the primary landmarks of the area. The artist collaborated on paintings in several other churches in Rome, but this painting was the first major project that he carried out on his own. Notice the pairing of instruments.
For 45 more historical pictures of angels playing trombone, see Angel Trombonists Throughout History.
1591—Rome, Italy: Artist Ferrau Fenzoni includes an angel playing trombone in a ceiling painting in the chapel of St. Francis in the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere (see lower-middle of below image; public domain) (Schwed, New Drawings by Ferrau Fenzoni).
Just added the below image and caption to the Trombone History Timeline (16th century). It’s a little like playing “Where’s Waldo,” but if you look closely, you’ll see two trombones there (be sure to click on the picture for a larger version).
c. 1550—A leaf of various studies by artist Solis Virgit (1514-62) includes 2 trombones (see upper-right and lower-middle of below image—click for larger version; public domain) (Louvre).
Just added the below image and caption to the Trombone History Timeline (19th Century—2nd half). Another 19th century trombone image using humor/satire.
1870-71—Paris, France: A satirical lithograph by caricaturist De La Tramblais shows German Emperor Wilhelm I and Otto von Bismarck with a guitar and trombone, respectively, serenading an obviously unreceptive woman (see below image; public domain) (Victoria & Albert Museum).
Just added this image and caption to the 19th century timeline (first half). Reproductions of the picture are available here.
1839—London, England: A lithograph by George Scharf (the elder) entitled London Street Band includes a trombone (see below image; public domain).