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Harpsichord

1666
Not on view
This large cypress instrument has two sets of unison strings, and, like most Italian harpsichords, can be removed from its outer painted case. An inscription explains that the instrument was restored in 1755 by Giovanni Ferrini, who replaced Bartolomeo Cristofori as Medici court harpsichord maker. Ferrini extended the range of its keyboard to the present GG–c'''. This harpsichord is one of only two that can be firmly attributed to Zenti.

Technical description: Inner-outer case construction, inner case and soundboard of cypress, outer case of painted deal, on three heavy turned legs, legs and outer case may not be original; present compass is AA-f3, original was GG, AA-c3, compass was enlarged in 18th century by shifting original keyboard to the left, adding new keys at the treble end, and by moving the nut and bridge to retain the approximate original scaling as much as possible (see measurements); boxwood naturals with boxwood arcades, black-stained hardwood accidentals covered with ebony plates, keys guided by wooden slips in rack; single manual, 2x8' , box guides may be moved by wires that protrude through the cheek, present jacks are modern replacements (old jacks have been saved, could be original, are of beech (?) with brass leaf springs and leather plectra, double flag dampers, have been extended 5 or 6 mm at bottom; pierced parchment rose in soundboard.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Harpsichord
  • Maker: Girolamo Zenti (Viterbo 1609-11?–1666/7 Paris)
  • Date: 1666
  • Geography: Rome, Italy
  • Culture: Italian
  • Medium: Cypress, boxwood, ebony, brass, leather
  • Dimensions: L. 243cm
    W. 91cm
    D. 27cm
    front legs: 90cm x 25.5cm x 66cm
    back legs: 26cm x 26cm x 67cm
  • Classification: Chordophone-Zither-plucked-harpsichord
  • Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
  • Object Number: 89.4.1220a-b
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

More Artwork

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Triangular Octave Spinet, Girolamo Zenti Italian, Wood and various materials, Italian
Triangular Octave Spinet
Girolamo Zenti
before 1668
Harpsichord, Michele Todini , designer Italian, Wood, gilt, ebony, ivory, parchment, Italian (Roman)
Harpsichord
Multiple artists/makers
ca. 1670
Archlute, David Tecchler Austrian, active Italy, Spruce, ebony, ivory, tortoiseshell, mother-of-pearl, Italian
Archlute
David Tecchler
ca. 1725
Guitar, Giacomo (Jacob) Ertel German, Spruce, ebony, fruitwood, bone, ivory, mother-of-pearl, parchment, Italian
Guitar
Giacomo (Jacob) Ertel
late 17th century
Grand Piano, Bartolomeo Cristofori Italian, Cypress, boxwood, paint, leather, fir, Italian (Florence)
Grand Piano
Bartolomeo Cristofori
1720

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