A Lady Seated at a Virginal 1635

Pieter Codde’s “A Lady Seated at a Virginal” (1635) depicts a woman playing a virginal, a type of keyboard instrument popular in the 17th century. The woman, dressed in a luxurious black gown and lace collar, is seated in a dimly lit room, and her back is to the viewer, creating a sense of intimacy and quietude. The painting’s subject matter, a young woman playing music, was a popular motif in Dutch Golden Age art, reflecting the growing importance of music and leisure in Dutch society at the time. The inclusion of the virginal and the cello, both popular instruments of the era, contributes to the painting’s realistic depiction of domestic life.