Rebecchino

This rebecchino (a bowed string instrument) invites erotic interaction. Its front (not present) was likely unadorned, but its back takes the form of a courtesan, possibly Venus, identified by her loose golden hair, coral necklace, and platform shoes. In madrigals and prose, tuning and bowing the strings were common metaphors for foreplay and sex. While playing, the performer’s hand moves up and down the carved legs, triggering a sensory symphony of sound, sight, and touch.