Viola d'Amore 1701

Curator: I wonder what music this beautiful viola d’amore, made around 1701 by Giovanni Grancino, has given to the world. What is your first impression of the instrument? Editor: Well, the shape is lovely, so curvaceous! It also looks so delicate, yet complex with all those strings and tuning pegs. How would you interpret this piece beyond its obvious function as a musical instrument? Curator: Consider the cultural landscape of the 18th century, a time marked by courtly patronage and elaborate social rituals. Musical instruments like the viola d’amore transcended their utilitarian function, becoming symbols of status and refinement. Look closely at the delicate craftsmanship and ornamentation, could that speak to you about gender and power dynamics in the era? Editor: You’re right. It's beautiful, but it also looks kind of…unapproachable. Maybe its beauty served to uphold hierarchies, setting certain people, mainly upper-class men, apart from the rest of society. Curator: Exactly! This instrument, although beautiful, speaks volumes about social and economic inequalities. Who had access to music education and instruments like these, and who was excluded? Can you think about the perspective of the luthier who dedicated so much time to building instruments that could be owned only by aristocrats? Editor: I see what you mean! I had only thought of it as an art object at first, but now I see it embodies a much larger statement about that period. It’s more than just a pretty thing. Curator: Precisely! By critically examining the historical and social contexts, we can uncover the power dynamics embedded within seemingly benign art forms. We can be sure that by playing such an instrument, women musicians in convents or in rich aristocratic households were reclaiming space. There is much more here than just art! Editor: Thank you; you’ve really opened my eyes to different perspectives on this single work.