Bookshelves with Music Writings 1730

Giuseppe Maria Crespi made this painting of bookshelves with music writings, using oil on canvas. Look closely and you’ll see the materiality of these bound books, with their leather covers, gilt lettering, and hand-sewn pages. The artist has rendered the textures beautifully. But it’s also important to consider the social context of these objects. In Crespi’s time, the books were luxury goods, prized as emblems of wealth and learning. The work celebrates not just knowledge but the labor involved in producing and preserving it. The ink and quill speak to the act of writing and musical composition. The shelves themselves are carefully constructed, holding this precious cargo. Crespi has drawn our attention to the rich cultural significance embedded in the making and consumption of these objects. So, next time you see a painting, think not just about what’s represented, but how and why it came to be.