Anonymous
Single-manual Neapolitan Harpsichord
Formerly the Property of
Grant O’Brien
This
photograph shows the instrument with what is probably its original outer case
and with its original seventeenth-century lid painting. The front part of the lid has been altered
to accommodate the sloping cheeks (probably by Hermann Seyffarth in
Leipzig-Göhlis in 1904), and the painting in this part of the lid appears to be
by a different hand from that of the rest of the lid. The scene represents Andromeda chained to a rock being rescued
from the sea monster by Perseus (only barely visible on the rock near the upper
left). This scene was used as an
allegory of Naples: it represents Naples
(the beautiful Andromeda) being rescued by Spain (the handsome Perseus) from the
Papal States (the ugly and vicious sea monster)!
The
outer case seen here with its original lid painting was said to have been thrown away by the
previous owner onto the streets of Paris for collection by the rubbish
services. No trace of this case nor of
the lid painting now survives. A new
case has been made for the instrument by Grant O’Brien.
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