Tuning Collection

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, statue as a boy
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 -1791), Austrian composer and musician, seen here in the form of a statue, as a boy with a violin and bow

Allegory of Music, 1649. Creator: Laurent de la Hyre
Allegory of Music, 1649. allegorical figure tunes a theorbo. At her shoulder is a songbird, symbol of natural music, whereas by contrast she may be a representation of modern music theory

Jean Martin Charcot (1825-1903) French neurologist and pathologist, on right, 1879 (engraving)
542252 Jean Martin Charcot (1825-1903) French neurologist and pathologist, on right, 1879 (engraving); (add.info.: demonstrating production of hypnosis using the sound from a large tuning fork)

Young woman tuning a grand piano. Piano tuning was considered a suitable occupation for a young lady forced to earn a
530242 Young woman tuning a grand piano. Piano tuning was considered a suitable occupation for a young lady forced to earn a living. Wood engraving, 1887.; Universal History Archive/UIG.

Young lady tuning a piano, 1887
3478839 Young lady tuning a piano, 1887; (add.info.: Young lady tuning a piano. This was an occupation considered suitable for a young lady forced to earn her living)

19th century musical instrument maker
673333 19th century musical instrument maker; (add.info.: a nineteenth century Musical Instrument Maker); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Tuning a Broadwood Cabinet piano. Wood engraving, London, 1842
530243 Tuning a Broadwood Cabinet piano. Wood engraving, London, 1842; Universal History Archive/UIG.

Geisha Tuning a Samisen, c1835. Creator: Yanagawa Shigenobu II
Geisha Tuning a Samisen, c1835. "Hand-Made" Flower Arrangement. From Flower Matching Contest, number 4

A Musical Company, 1730-1757. Creator: Melchior Brassauw
A Musical Company, 1730-1757

Woman tuning a theorbo, 1665. Creator: Frans van Mieris I
Woman tuning a theorbo, 1665

Two Studies of a Violinist Tuning His Instrument, 1717/1718. Creator: Jean-Antoine Watteau
Two Studies of a Violinist Tuning His Instrument, 1717/1718

Futatsuryu of Izutsuya as a Musician (Hayashi), from the series "Parade of the Shimanouchi... 1836
Futatsuryu of Izutsuya as a Musician (Hayashi), from the series "Parade of the Shimanouchi Pleasure Quarter (Shimanouchi nerimono)", 1836

Turning a Shamisen (Shamisen no nejime), from the series "Chanting to Shamisen by... c. 1804/06
Turning a Shamisen (Shamisen no nejime), from the series "Chanting to Shamisen by Young Women of Today (Tosei musume joruri)", Japan, c. 1804/06

No. 4: Personally Arranged Flower (Teike no hana), from the series "A Comparison...", late 1820s
No. 4: Personally Arranged Flower (Teike no hana), from the series "A Comparison of Flowers (Hana awase)", late 1820s

London - Harrods department store
05 September 2019, Great Britain, London: The famous Harrods department store in South Kensington on Brompton Road. Photo by: Waltraud Grubitzsch/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images

WW2 - R. A. F. Ground Crew Engine Tuning
A photograph of a British WW2 Royal Air Force ground crew tuning the engine of a bomber plane in readiness for a night raid. Date: circa 1940s

Studio Sun Advertisement
An advertisement page for Studio Sun, a complete service for publicity photography, specialists in figure, fashion, still life, location and industrial topics

The Lute Player (oil on canvas)
471386 The Lute Player (oil on canvas) by Rombouts, Theodor (1597-1637); 114x99 cm; Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp, Belgium; © Art in Flanders

Magistretti Wins Dante Stakes Ahead Of Tuning Fork Ridden By K.Darley York Racecourse May Meeting 20 York Racecourse, York, England 14 May 2003 Date: 14 May 2003

A Banquet in a Pleasure House on the Bank of the Okawa (Okawa bata giro jo no yusen), c. 1792

The Eighth Month (Hachi gatsu), from the series "Fashionable Twelve Months (Furyu)
The Eighth Month (Hachi gatsu), from the series " Fashionable Twelve Months (Furyu junikagetsu)", c. 1793

The Four Seasons in the South (Minami Shiki): Summer Scene, n. d
The Four Seasons in the South (Minami Shiki): Summer Scene, n.d

Palace Ladies Tuning a Zither (qin), Ming dynasty, 1368-1644. Creator: Unknown
Palace Ladies Tuning a Zither (qin), Ming dynasty, 1368-1644. Traditionally attributed to Zhou Fang

Tuning the Samisen, late 18th-early 19th century. Creator: Hokusai
Tuning the Samisen, late 18th-early 19th century

Pierrot, 1886 (oil on canvas)
989805 Pierrot, 1886 (oil on canvas) by Comerre, Leon Francois (1850-1916); 71.7x40 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Pierrot. Leon Francois Comerre (1850-1916). Oil on canvas

Scene from Windsor Forest, by Alexander Pope (engraving)
5996404 Scene from Windsor Forest, by Alexander Pope (engraving) by Scottish School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Scene from Windsor Forest, by Alexander Pope)

The Prince of Wales in India (engraving)
1059135 The Prince of Wales in India (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Prince of Wales in India)

Imperial Airways City of Manchester, Argosy type aircraft, tuning up the engine, Croydon Airport Date: 1930

BBC Late Low Definition Television Control Room. On the right is the mirror-drum projection scanner, on the left are the two checking receivers

Toning the Bell, 1874 (oil on canvas)
2968821 Toning the Bell, 1874 (oil on canvas) by Shirlaw, Walter (1838-1909); 101.6x76.2 cm; The Art Institute of Chicago, IL, USA; Friends of American Art Collection; American, out of copyright

Thomas Britton (1644-1714), the Small-Coal Man, engraved by Thomas Johnson (engraving)
DEC84570 Thomas Britton (1644-1714), the Small-Coal Man, engraved by Thomas Johnson (engraving) by Wollaston, John (fl.1736-75); 30.5x25 cm; Gerald Coke Handel Collection, Foundling Museum

Te-ike no hana Hand-picked flower, a term used to refer to a geisha or
1766531 Te-ike no hana Hand-picked flower, a term used to refer to a geisha or courtesan who has become the wife or mistress of the patron who bought out her contract with a bordello

The Concert, (oil on canvas)
827426 The Concert, (oil on canvas) by Soulacroix, Joseph Frederick Charles (1825-79); 108x180.3 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: The Concert. Joseph Frederic Charles Soulacroix (1825-1879)

Men working in the Hardman, Peck & Co. piano factory, New York
MNY381257 Men working in the Hardman, Peck & Co. piano factory, New York, 1907 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 19.2x25.4 cm; Museum of the City of New York

Rudolph Koenigs Exhibit, Philosophical Apparatus, Main Exhibition
941024 Rudolph Koenigs Exhibit, Philosophical Apparatus, Main Exhibition, Centennial International Exhibition, Philadelphia, 1876 (silver albumen print) by American Photographer

Violet Cordery, Queen of Motorists
Violet Cordery, whose successful driving earned her the title of Queen of Motorists, showing her sister Evelyn how to tune up a car

The Musicians, 1884 (oil on canvas)
659163 The Musicians, 1884 (oil on canvas) by Brown, H. W. Jennings (1862-98); 127x183 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; British, out of copyright

Advertisement, the Creation of a Pianoforte (engraving)
1605633 Advertisement, the Creation of a Pianoforte (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Advertisement, the Creation of a Pianoforte)

The Music Lesson (oil on canvas)
CHT219399 The Music Lesson (oil on canvas) by Watteau, Jean Antoine (1684-1721); Private Collection; (add.info.: La Lecon de Musique, chanteuse et joueur de luth; ); eArchives Charmet; French

A man working in the Harrington Piano Co. factory, 1907 (silver gelatin print)
MNY381270 A man working in the Harrington Piano Co. factory, 1907 (silver gelatin print) by Byron Company (fl.1890-1942); 20.3x25.4 cm; Museum of the City of New York

The Wind-up of the "Inventories", Humours of the Musical Jury (engraving)
1614325 The Wind-up of the " Inventories", Humours of the Musical Jury (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Allegory of Music, 1649 (oil on canvas)
3493085 Allegory of Music, 1649 (oil on canvas) by La Hire or La Hyre, Laurent de (1606-56); 105.7x144.1 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Old Man with a Violin (oil on canvas)
1128153 Old Man with a Violin (oil on canvas) by Clare, T. (19th century); 47x29 cm; Bradford Art Galleries and Museums, West Yorkshire, UK; eBradford Museums & Galleries; British, out of copyright

The E-String (oil on canvas)
BOW106518 The E-String (oil on canvas) by Forbes, Stanhope Alexander (1857-1947); 76.2x61 cm; Private Collection; Courtesy of Simon Gillespie Studio, London; English, out of copyright

The Sculpture at the Royal Academy (engraving)
1608014 The Sculpture at the Royal Academy (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Sculpture at the Royal Academy)

"Tuning, "designed by the Late R J Wyatt (engraving)
1096801 " Tuning, " designed by the Late R J Wyatt (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: " Tuning, " designed by the Late R J Wyatt)

The Creation of a Pianoforte (engraving)
1042274 The Creation of a Pianoforte (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Creation of a Pianoforte)

A lady playing the lute in a portico (oil on panel)
877526 A lady playing the lute in a portico (oil on panel) by Werff, Pieter van der (1665-1722); Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; Dutch, out of copyright

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"Tuning: A Harmonious Journey Through Time and Art" In the world of music, tuning is an art that transcends time and connects diverse cultures. From the prodigious mind of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to the delicate statue depicting him as a young boy, we witness the early stages of mastering this craft. The "Allegory of Music" by Laurent de la Hyre takes us back to 1649, where musicians meticulously tuned their instruments before creating enchanting melodies. Fast forward centuries later, during World War II, R. A. F. Ground Crew Engine Tuning became crucial for ensuring aircraft engines operated flawlessly amidst chaos. Even in advertising, Studio Sun's captivating advertisement at Harrods department store captures our attention with its vibrant display of pianos waiting to be tuned. The 78 rpm record cover from Saville Pianos Ltd reminds us how tuning was essential for preserving the rich sound quality on vinyl records. Artistic expressions take various forms - from oil paintings like "The Lute Player" to horse racing victories like Magistretti winning Dante Stakes ahead of a resounding tuning fork. Japanese prints such as "A Banquet in a Pleasure House on the Bank of Okawa" or "The Eighth Month (Hachi gatsu)" showcase cultural celebrations where tunings create harmonious atmospheres. Nature itself becomes an inspiration for tunings; "The Four Seasons in the South: Summer Scene" transports us to serene landscapes where nature's symphony unfolds effortlessly. Finally, Palace Ladies Tuning a Zither during China's Ming dynasty highlights how this art form permeated royal courts and brought joy even within regal walls. Tuning has been an integral part of human existence since ancient times - it unites people through music and creates harmony across generations. Whether it be Mozart composing masterpieces or ground crew members fine-tuning engines under pressure, these glimpses into history remind us of the power and beauty that lies within the art of tuning.