The Trombone History Timeline features 22 paintings from the Low Countries within the short span of approximately 35 years (1606-c. 1640) that include trombone. They are similar and noteworthy in several respects. Several of the artists, most notably Rubens and Brueghel, are very…
dulcian iconography
The Faintest Hint of a Trombone
The faintest hint of a trombone (not a phrase you often hear) can be seen in the below painting I just added to the 17th century timeline (2nd half). A barely-visible angel playing trombone is found in the middle of…
Missing Something? Bell-less Trombones in Art
The slide is one of the most identifiable visual characteristics of the trombone in artwork. However, when a slide turns up without a bell, it can be problematic. Could it still be a trombone? Are we trying too hard to…
Trombone Iconography: Young Trombonists in Five Montserrat Paintings
In my search for images for the Trombone History Timeline I’ve come across some pretty interesting little trends and groupings—trombones in altarpieces, trombones on organ cases, angel-trombonists, trombones in Antwerp, early rear-facing trombones, early female trombonists, etc. Another noteworthy little…
Trombone History: Six Early 17th Century Images from Antwerp
The first 2 images below are paintings I just added to the Early 17th Century Timeline. One thing that has become apparent is that there is a grouping of several similar paintings from this era by a small handful of…
Trombone History: Two 17th Century Images
Below are two new 17th century images, one a painting and the other a print. The painting, shown here only in a detail of one portion of the work, has been attributed to Sebastian Vranckx and Jan Brueghel the Younger…
Notes from the Netherlands and St. Louis
I received a very kind note from Hans Mons of the Netherlands, whose website on the dulcian, a predecessor of the bassoon, is extremely informative (see, especially, the section on iconography). I also received a nice note from Jonathan Reycraft, trombonist…