Franco-Flemish double-manual harpsichord, originally a 'transposing' harpsichord made in Antwerp in 1617 by an unknown maker.  It was lavishly decorated and given a bass ravalement in Paris sometime between 1742 and 1750, a treble ravalement in 1750 by François Étienne Blanchet, and a further treble ravalement in 1786 by Jacques Barberini and Nicolas Hoffmann.

 

Louis Diémer

Perhaps the first professional harpsichord player of the modern era

Louis Diémer photographed by Étienne Carjat sometime in the 1860's

 

Return to the section on the ethical problems encountered in the restoration of the Franco-Flemish harpsichord