Théorbe before 1828

Pierre Félix van Doren made this drawing of a theorbo sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The instrument seems to float ethereally at the center of the page, framed by a circle and crowned with delicate ribbons. Van Doren was Belgian, living through a period of upheaval in Europe. His lifetime saw the rise and fall of Napoleon, the creation of Belgium as an independent nation and the dawn of industrialization. Music, during this period, played an important role in forging national identities and solidifying social bonds. The theorbo itself, however, was becoming an instrument of the past. Popular during the Baroque era, it had become a relic, evoking a sense of nostalgia for a bygone era of aristocratic patronage and elaborate courtly entertainments. As historians, we can look at Van Doren's other drawings and delve into the musical culture of 19th-century Belgium to understand why he chose to depict this particular instrument. By understanding its cultural context we can begin to understand the meaning this image held for him, and perhaps for his contemporaries.