The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #70749   Message #1209052
Posted By: JohnInKansas
16-Jun-04 - 11:12 PM
Thread Name: Theorbo's (Big Lute type thing) anyone?
Subject: RE: Theorbo's (Big Lute type thing) anyone?
There are a couple of other "classic" paintings of theorbo style instruments, but they're harder to trace because the common names/titles for them are usually given as "Lute player" or some such. The instrument hasn't been shown, so far as I've seen, in art representing the artist's "contemporaries" since a little before 1800, and was probably most common (based on the paintings) in the 1600s or early 1700s. A few later paintings show one - or something similar - as part of an "antique theme."

The couple of history books I've got are rather indefinite about when the theorbo might have been in the pop bands.

John