1503-1529

God the Father Enthroned and Surrounded by the Celestial Hierarchy, a painting by Joan Gascó, includes what appears to be a trombone-playing angel with a rear-facing instrument (see detail below). includes what appears to be a trombone-playing angel with a rear-facing instrument. The first detail below shows what is probably the bell, circled in red. The second, which is in color, shows the players in a wider detail so you can see what is behind and above the musicians, as well as the color of the bell, and the third image shows the full painting (public domain images) (Ballester; French National Library). This rear-facing or over-the-shoulder trombone is one of several examples from pre-1800, including 1503-1529, c. 1504, 1570, 1578, c. 1615, c. 1660-1670, 1689, 1732, and c. 1795.