I was recently doing some research on a different topic (for a History of Civilization course I’ll be teaching during a Vienna Study Abroad program), when I came across this gem. It’s one of many depictions of trombone-playing muses. Although it’s obviously symbolic, it’s also noteworthy because it depicts a woman playing the trombone. You can see the painting in the context of trombone history in the Trombone History Timeline (17th century).

Early 1600s—Schloss Würting, Austria: A ceiling painting in the Würting castle in Upper Austria depicts Apollo and the muses, with one of the muses playing trombone (see detail and full image below; public domain) (Feuchtmüller pl. 190).