Lorenzo Costa, "Il Concerto"

Speranza



Londra.

One of the very rare pictures to take up the themes encountered in choir stalls is Lorenzo's Costa, "Il Concerto", probably painted in 1480.

"Il Concerto" shows three figures, two male and one femla, who sing a madrigal from a part book laid out on the ledge in front of them.

it is known that at the Court of Mantova, Lorenzo Costa decorated a room showing Isabella d'Este and her court, "who, singing variously, make sweet harmony".

There can be little doubt that "Il Concerto" di Lorenzo Costa is an allegory of harmony in the guise of a group portrait.

It is not, strictly speaking, a genre picture, though.