Several weeks ago I blogged about a red chalk drawing by an artist named Il Volterrano (also known variously as Baldassare Franceschini and Franceschini Baldassare detto Volterrano). The image, a preparatory drawing for a 17th-century Florentine fresco, features trombone prominently among two other…
Italy
Trombone and the Art of Illusion
Quadratura is a type of illusionistic painting that interacts with a building’s architecture, often extending or altering the actual appearance of the architecture. Popular with Baroque artists, it is similar to other illusionistic techniques such as trompe-l’œil, although it tends…
Trombones in Rome’s San Giovanni in Laterano
Added the following to the 16th century timeline. For reasons of space, only the detail is included in the timeline. Special thanks to Dennis F. Cramer for the photographs. 1598—Rome, Italy: An organ is built for San Giovanni in Laterano…
How Early Should You Start Playing Trombone? A Young 17th-Century Trombonist
Just added another trombone image to the 17th century timeline (first half). He doesn’t look much older than my one-year-old son! c. 1629—Venice, Italy: Veronese artist Fra Semplice da Verona includes a depiction of a cherub playing trombone in Infant…
Clip of 17th Century “Trombone Motet”
Added another clip to the 17th century timeline (first half), this one belonging to a genre that historian Jerome Roche calls the “trombone motet.” It’s a beautiful sonority. The clip and attached caption are below. Notice, incidentally, that the image…
Trombone History Image Update
Updated the entry below from the 17th century timeline (first half) with a color image and exact date. Also of interest is the fact that the painting is an altarpiece, one of many featuring trombone images. 1616—Bologna, Italy: Ludovico Carracci’s Paradise,…
Crossing Your Legs While You Play: A 17th Century Trombone Drawing
Heard you should never cross your legs while you play? Well, this 17th century angel-trombonist, recently added to the Trombone History Timeline, must not have been there for the band director’s lecture. c. 1642—Florence, Italy: Il Volterrano (also known variously…
Wedding Bells: Trombone in Wedding Celebrations
I just added another image to the 19th century timeline (2nd half), another depiction of a wedding celebration that includes trombone (c. 1885, shown below). Wedding celebrations constitute a fairly common theme in trombone history, with a total of 14…
Yet Another Angel-Trombonist from 17th-Century Italy
I recently posted a blog entry (here) that mentioned how common paintings of angel-trombonists from 17th-century Italy are, reflecting as they do the sacred nature of the trombone. Below is yet another painting that I’ve located. The detail of the…
Angel-Trombonists, Italian Painters, and the 17th Century
Added another image of an angel-trombonist to the Early 17th Century Timeline (see images and timeline entry, below). Trombone history seems to replete with these striking paintings, particularly by Italian artists, depicting the sacred nature of the trombone. See especially 17th…