If you look carefully, you can listen to the music

The instrument of the 16th and 17th centuries, the lute’s sound is gentle and mellow and while we looked at contemporary works of art, Adam played the lute, bringing these pieces alive in a completely different way. Today art galleries are quiet. We listen to music in all sorts of different places, but rarely art galleries. During the Renaissance, many famous artists, including Leonardo da Vinci and Giorgione, were accomplished musicians. In fact, Leonardo was first employed by the Sforzas for his musicianship.

The lute dates back to the 13th century and is derived from the North African ud. As trading increased in the 14th century, it was brought to Europe and more strings were added. These earlier instruments were played with plectrums; the European lutenists use their fingers to pluck the strings.

Many paintings are so detailed that it is possible to determine what notes are being played. Adam illustrated this by playing the angel’s chord in Masaccio’s

Madonna with Child and Angels. On the other hand, there are works of art that have been over-enthusiastically restored and any written music is now illegible. A strong argument between which was the greatest art – painting or music – raged during this time, illustrated in Venus and The Lute Player by Titian, showing his genius in depiction, which is forever, whereas music is fleeting.

The theme of music and love are often shown together. Interestingly, words like harmony, patience and practice apply to both, as do discord and painful mistakes. This similarity would not have been lost to the men and women of the Renaissance. Not many lutes remain from this period. They are beautiful instruments with decorated fret boards and backs, admired for their beauty as much as for sound. When the instrument fell out of favour only a few exquisite examples survived. Some can be seen at the V&A.

If you’re wondering which instrument is king, it’s the voice.