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The queen (or is it the King?) of heav- en adorned with a crown looks upon the virgin whose eyes return their gaze as she brings forth music from the taught gut strings under her touch. The virgin’s left eye is deep and large and internal while the right focuses outwardly capturing the quality of poise and attentive listen- ing that is present in the creative act. The communication remains con- stant between them while the violin is played, held with sensitivity off to the left of the figure. Is this one of the nine Muses? Does her inspiration flow from this interlocking gaze? Has her music given us a vision of an oth- erwise invisible face, drawn into view by the quality of the melody and the obedience of the musician to the source of her inspiration? The two faces beckon uniquely to the other in a reciprocity that brings forth this creative melody and sustains the ten- sion of the painting like it’s ison, while the vibrant colors provide an ever-changing melody dancing around it. The red flames of Eros are beside her hidden foot and the eyes of the Queen are reflected in the wa- ters looking up from below beside her exposed foot. — Stephen Muse
Euterpe the Muse of Music and Lyric Poetry,
acrylic on canvas, Half Moon Bay, 2022
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