The singing lesson

The singing lesson, a painting by Alessandro Magnasco, dates from 1680-1690. It is part of the Jacques Goudstikker collection. The painting measures 0.757 meters in width and 0.517 meters in height.

The artwork depicts a lively scene in what appears to be a dimly lit, cluttered room. A group of people, predominantly dressed in dark, simple clothing, are gathered around a large open book or musical score resting on a table. Some individuals appear to be singing or listening intently, while others are engaged in various activities, including a child being held by an adult. The atmosphere is informal and somewhat chaotic, with figures positioned closely together. The artist uses a dark palette, with contrasting highlights to emphasize the figures and their actions. The overall style suggests a genre scene, possibly depicting a casual musical gathering or lesson.