See what's on | Music and musical motifs in the painting of former masters

Music from time immemorial accompanied man, performing a variety of functions. Sometimes it was used for fun and relaxation in the fresh air. Others, in turn, together provided an excellent background and setting for various court, city or church celebrations. Finally, it allowed man to indulge in soothing meditation in the extraordinary land of sounds from the comfort of his home. It is therefore not surprising that Music has also become an essential heroine of painting. Especially often musical motifs (instruments, musical pairs and notebooks with notes) were present in the works of former brush masters operating during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. It is on their works that the curator Michał Antoni Pieczka will focus during the meeting, presenting a number of examples of more and less known paintings by Dutch, Flemish or Italian and Spanish masters.

We invite you to explore the unobvious connections between music and painting, dance and literature. Together we will look at how sounds inspire artists, how music is fixed on canvases, how dance turns into an image, and melodies become a source of magic and literary tales. From the works of old masters and Renaissance visions, to ancient dance performances and fantasy worlds, to the lyrics of pop songs, we will look for traces of music where we don't always expect to find it.

AHEAD OF US FROM THE CYCLE:

27 January 2027 | 5:30pm | From ancient dancers to a dancing brush — dance motifs in art | Barbara Przerwa

3 February 2027 | 5:30pm | The world of paintings by Sandro Botticelli in the works of Ottorin Respighi | Anna Jezierska

February 10, 2027 | 5:30pm | Fantasy Music | dr Fryderyk Nguyen

February 17, 2027 | 5:30pm | Literature and pop | dr Fryderyk Nguyen