Musicians around a table 1637 - 1692

Antonio Carneo made this red chalk drawing of musicians around a table sometime in the second half of the 17th century. It captures a moment of relaxed social interaction, something that was increasingly seen in art of this period. In the 17th century, academies of art were becoming ever more powerful. These institutions had a strong influence on what art was thought to be good, or even acceptable. The focus of these academies on ‘grand’ subjects, such as history or mythology, was increasingly challenged by artists who wanted to depict everyday life. Carneo’s casual grouping of figures suggests a self-conscious decision to turn away from those grand subjects. It represents a turn to the everyday. To understand Carneo's art fully, we can look at the history of art institutions and the changing social status of artists in 17th-century Europe. By studying such sources, we begin to see how cultural values influence artistic choices.