Ter Brugghen was the only one who may have been in Rome whilst Caravaggio was still working there. This picture shows awareness of Caravaggio's Lute-player of circa 1596 and of Orazio Gentileschi's Female violinist of circa 1611/12. Ter Brugghen has been recently recognised as an unorthodox, but significant influence on the work of Vermeer. The painting acts as an allegory of the sense of hearing - there may be an intended joke that the girl's ear is covered by her turban. The musical theme is important to the Fitzwilliam which acquired Titian's 'Venus and Cupid with a lute-player' through its founding bequest in 1816 and contains a wide selection of manuscript lute music of this period.

Provenance

Christie's, 1954; The Arcade Gallery; Benedict Nicolson; then by descent to Vanessa Nicholson. On loan to the Fitzwilliam from 1981 to 2010. The work has been vetted by the Art Loss Register.