Skip to content

Objekt 1

The Ryhiner-Leissler family making music, Basel, 1757

Description

The two large oil paintings illustrate domestic music-making in Basel. The Ryhiner-Leissler family can be seen in their country house. Elisabeth Ryhiner-Leissler (1709-1796) is seated in the left-hand picture. She is leaning against the spinet being played by her son Emanuel (1733-1804). The picture on the right shows the father Emanuel Ryhiner-Leissler (1704-1790) on the violoncello, while his son Achilles (1731-1788) plays the violin. It is not only the joint music-making as a pastime, but also the Persian carpet on which the sheet music lies, the servant, the interior, the dogs and the parrot that point to the family's wealth.

Picture right: Father Emanuel Ryhiner-Leissler (cello) and elder son Achilles Ryhiner-Delon (violin) and servant François.

Picture left: Mother Elisabeth Ryhiner-Leissler and the younger son Emanuel Ryhiner-Thurneysen (spinet).

The spinet bears striking similarities to the Basel instruments of father Peter Fridrich Brosi and son Johann Jacob Brosy.

Object description

Joseph Esperlin (1707-1775), Basel, 1757, dated

Oil on canvas, h. 182 cm; w. 256 cm

Bequest Alfred Karl German La Roche-Fetscherin, Basel

Inv. no. 1996.311. (picture right) 312. (picture left)

For further information see screen room 13

Newsletter

Subscribe