Vernis Martin decoration of a Franco-Flemish harpsichord

A Franco-Flemish double-manual harpsichord, originally a 'transposing' harpsichord made in Antwerp in 1617 by an unknown maker. It was given a bass ravalement in Paris sometime between 1742 and 1750. Then it received a major alteration when it was lavishly decorated and given a bass ravalement in 1750 by François Étienne Blanchet, in Paris. Later is was given a treble ravalement in 1786 by Jacques Barberini and Nicolas Hoffmann, also in Paris.

Detail of the case Bentside decoration 1

This detail is of the bentside. At the left we can see the addition made by Barberini and Hoffmann to extend the treble compass from d³ to f³. An attempt has been made to disguise the join in the wood with a vertical line of foliage covering over the physical join.

This part of the 'Triumph of Love' contains what is, perhaps, the most un-retouched part of the whole series. This is the head (barely recognisable at the scale of the image above) of the lying putto with his quiver of arrow in the lower central part of this detail.

Detail of the head of the central putto

It seems likely that all of the figures of the lockboard, cheek, bentside and tail were painted with the same consummate skill as the painting of this little brunette putto.