Although all the comments are quite true, vanitas, etc, the broken
string was originally a reference to several works of the Classics
including Euripides. The following is from a Greek Votive inscription:
DEDICATORY. 285
THE CICALA [CICADA].
rbv xo^kovp rimya. a i. 202.
Phoebus, on thy shrine I place
Thine own Cicala wrought in brass,
Memorial of my victor crown,
Eunomus of Locri's town !
To the lyre's sweet strife we came
(Parthes was my rival's name).
To the plectrum's touch of fire
Scarce had rung the Locrian lyre ;
With the sharp and sudden strain
Burst the shrilling string in twain.
Ere the halting harmony
On the list'ning ear could die,
Sat the insect, carolling
Sweetly on the broken string,
To the same
unfailing note,
Warbling from his mimic throat.
dt
__________________________________________________________________
From: Rob MacKillop <[email protected]>
To: Anthony Hind <[email protected]>
Cc: lute List <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2009 4:31:21 PM
Subject: [LUTE] Re: Dutch theorbo painting online
Broken strings was a typical way for the artist to show 'discord'
between the subjects. The Amabassadors is another example.
Rob
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