Missing Something? Bell-less Trombones in Art

matarana detail 1

The slide is one of the most identifiable visual characteristics of the trombone in artwork. However, when a slide turns up without a bell, it can be problematic. Could it still be a trombone? Are we trying too hard to make it a trombone? Was it just artist error? Artistic license? A mistake in a [...]

Trombone History Image Update

Updated the entry below from the 17th century timeline (first half) with a color image and exact date. Also of interest is the fact that the painting is an altarpiece, one of many featuring trombone images. 1616—Bologna, Italy: Ludovico Carracci’s Paradise, an altarpiece painting located in the Church of San Paolo Maggiore, features an angel-trombonist situated [...]

The Adoration of the Magi: Another Angel Trombonist

What do trombone history and the Christian adoration of the magi have in common? Well, I came across this painting recently, which has been added to the 17th century trombone history timeline (first half), offering yet another example of an angel trombonist from the early 17th century. Another common theme the painting belongs to, besides [...]

Trombone History: The Trombone and Altarpieces

I recently added the below altarpiece to the 16th century timeline. The religious significance of the early trombone is actually reflected in several altarpieces from the 16th and early 17th centuries; I’ve included 5 others in this blog post, all of them currently shown in the timeline. Unlike the trombones on organ cases, which are [...]

Trombone History: Angel-Trombonist in 16th Century Altarpiece

Baldung detail

Added a really nice painting by German artist Hans Baldung to the 16th Century Timeline, dating from fairly early in the history of the trombone. The angel’s grip of the slide is interesting, but probably not a literal representation. In general terms, notice the fairly equal balance of religious versus secular trombone iconography from the [...]