# Woman Playing the Virginal

- By: Jan Miense Molenaer (Haarlem, ca. –1668)
- Date: c. 1637
- Medium: panel, oil paint (paint)
- Classification: painting
- Dimensions: support: height 38.6 cm x width 29.6 cm
- Credit line: On loan from the City of Amsterdam (A. van der Hoop Bequest)
- Museum: [Rijksmuseum](https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/SK-C-140--7d440c9ad07ea9b60ab8deff59970678)
- Rights: [Public Domain Mark](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)
- Picture: https://iiif.micr.io/PGbAW/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Tweens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

During the 17th century, making music at home was very popular and many wealthy people played a musical instrument. Here, a woman plays a virginal while two children listen attentively. A man is just entering the room. The painting is full of love symbolism: making music was a common metaphor for love, while the chained monkey on the instrument serves as a warning against lust.