[1]Click here: http://www.nationalmuseum.se/Global/Pressbilder/RubensvanDyck/Hoegupplo est%20jpg/0410.jpg
My Swedish friend and colleague Hannah Tibell, whose husband is lutenist Richard Sweeney, has managed to track down the details of this painting; this is what she said: "Richard saw this painting not so long ago in Stockholm. After some detective work I found out it's by Thomas Willeborts Bosschaert (1613-1654), and it's called Amor Triumphant among Emblems of Art, Science and War. c. 1645-50." So Flemish, mid-17th century. Not surprising not to find any metal in the strings then! One curiosity about the apparent diameters: The general impression is that there is not much difference between 3rd and 4th strings (I won't say G and C, as that is a bit of an assumption, especially in this period); but while at the bridge the 3rd looks at least as thick as the 4th, at the end of the fingerboard, the 4th looks substantially thicker. Then again at the nut, they seem much more similar. There are a few irregularities in the nut/scroll area, too - the 1st and 4th strings seem to take a dramatic swerve away from the edge of the fingerboard as they enter the scroll, and the scroll and pegs look as though a little more attention to perspective was needed! So I think we should be cautious about trying to draw precise conclusions from it! Regards Oliver PS speaking of all gut on cello-type instruments, there is a nice one by Cristoforo Munari (1667-1720)showing a cello with clearly depicted gut strings all the way down, with a very thick C. I don't know the exact date but there is a similar painting of a violin c.1710, also with a very thick gut G, so I imagine it is a similar period. This is quite unusual for this time! If I can find a link to the image I'll post it. -- References 1. http://www.nationalmuseum.se/Global/Pressbilder/RubensvanDyck/H%C3%B6guppl%C3%B6st%20jpg/0410.jpg To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
