Sorry Bruce but the facts show the evolution much better than any establishment bull however ancient. Tim I suspect if the painter is depicting an Irish piper the instrument is probably tuned to C or B which is lower in pitch to a modern instrument - typicaly tuned in D. The Drones would have to be much longer than a modern instrument. RE Uillean Pipes and playing 7 years learning 7 years practicing 7 years playing to be a Piper.