What you are looking at
Four young men in loose white robes crowd together, tuning a lute and reading music, while a boy with wings plucks grapes behind them.
Why it is famous
Caravaggio painted it in 1597 for his patron Cardinal Francesco del Monte in Rome. The Met notes that the young man with the horn may be a self-portrait.
How big is The Musicians?
The Musicians measures 92.1 × 118.4 cm (36.3 × 46.6 in), without its frame. Its surface is about 3 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
Compare it with other paintings
Where to see it
It is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
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More by Caravaggio
Also at The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Frequently asked questions
Who painted The Musicians?
Caravaggio painted The Musicians in 1597.
Where is The Musicians?
The Musicians is in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, United States. (Gallery 620.)
How big is The Musicians?
92.1 × 118.4 cm (36.3 × 46.6 in). Its surface is about 3 times the area of the Mona Lisa.
What is The Musicians made with?
Oil on canvas.
Sources: The Met, "The Musicians" (52.81); Wikidata Q655705; Wikipedia, "The Musicians". Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.