Maurice Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte
We all have a favourite piece of classical music, even if like me you don’t know its title until a couple of weeks ago. Pavane pour une infante defunte (Procession for a dead princess) is a haunting work, composed in 1899 by Maurice Ravel. A pavane is a slow processional dance, often performed in Royal Courts during the 16th and 17th centuries. Ravel was obsessed with the art of the Spaniard Diego Velazquez, particularly his magnum opus Las Meninas. This work still dominates the Prado in Madrid. The star of painting is the 5 year old Infanta Margarita Teresa. Ravel was always coy about the inspiration of his music, but Margarita Teresa died at just 21 years of age, during her seventh pregnancy. I am astonished that a favourite piece of music has a link to one of my favourite paintings. Click the link above to hear Ravel’s masterpiece. #fingerscrosseditworks #letsmakelemonade
Pen Paint and Scalpel 