ID: 700000119 Page link: http://vocab.getty.edu/page/cona/700000119	Record Type: Movable Work
Images: 1

Viola da Gamba (viola da gamba; labeled Richard Meares (British, London 1647–1725 London); ca. 1680; Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City, New York state, U...; 1982.324 ; )

Note: Viols, the most esteemed bowed instruments of the late Renaissance, were only gradually displaced by the violin family. Viols differ from violins chiefly in shape, in number of strings and tuning, and in having fretted necks. All viols are played in an upright position between the knees or on the legs ("gamba" means "leg"), and the bow is held palm upward. Their sound is less brilliant and quieter than that of violin's. Chamber music for a consort of four to six viols was composed during the Renaissance and Baroque eras, and solo works for the bass viol were being played until nearly the end of the eighteenth century.

Titles:

Viola da Gamba (preferred,C,U,RP,English-P,L,N,Italian,,)

Catalog Level: item

Work Types:

viola da gamba [300042237] (preferred)

..... (Objects Facet, Furnishings and Equipment (hierarchy name), Sound Devices (hierarchy name), sound devices (equipment), <sound devices by acoustical characteristics>, chordophones, lutelike chordophones, lutelike chordophones: bowed, fiddles, viols)

Classifications:

decorative arts (preferred)

European art

music / musical instruments

Creation Date: ca. 1680

Creator Display:

labeled Richard Meares (British, London 1647–1725 London) [preferred,VP]

musical instrument maker Meares, Richard (British musical instrument maker, active ca. 1680) [500329581]

Locations:

Creation: London [7011781] Greater London (metropolitan area), England (country), United Kingdom (nation), Europe (continent), World (facet) (Geographic)

Current: Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York City, New York state, United States) [500125157] Corporate Bodies (Corp. Body)

Repository Numbers: 1982.324

Credit Line: Purchase, Louis V. Bell Fund, Mrs. Vincent Astor Gift, and funds from various donors, 1982

Display Materials: Spruce, ebony, maple

	spruce (wood) [300012726]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by origin>, biological material, plant material, <wood and wood by product>, wood (plant material), <wood by composition or origin>, softwood)

	ebony (wood) [300012055]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by origin>, biological material, plant material, <wood and wood by product>, wood (plant material), <wood by composition or origin>, hardwood)

	maple (wood) [300012236]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by origin>, biological material, plant material, <wood and wood by product>, wood (plant material), <wood by composition or origin>, hardwood)

Dimensions: length of body: 65.3 cm (25 3/4 inches); width of center bout 22.5 cm (8 7/8 inches)

General Subject:

utilitarian objects (preferred,isness)

musical

Specific Subjects:

	music (performing arts genre) [300054146]
	.....(Associated Concepts Facet, Associated Concepts (hierarchy name), <concepts in the arts and humanities>, <genres in literature and performing arts>, <genres for performing arts>) (AAT)

Provenance: William L. Monical (1974-1982) ; Mrs. Paul (Maisie) W. Kohnstamm (until 1974) ; Henry Werro , Bern, Switzerland ; [ W. E. Hill & Sons , London]

Inscriptions: printed label: Richardus Meares,/Instrument.Music.Fabric.in area/Boreali.D. Pauli apud Londinates

List/Hierarchical Position:

..... Movable Works

.......... Movable Works by class: decorative and utilitarian works

Sources and Contributors:
Viola da Gamba	........ [VP]
	........ Metropolitan Museum of Art [online] (2001-)

Subject: ....... [VP]

Note:
English	..... [VP]
	..... Metropolitan Museum of Art [online] (2001-) accessed 24 July 2005