The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Pair of five-light candelabra

Art Object

David Roentgen's Automaton of Queen Marie Antoinette, The Dulcimer Player (La Joueuse de Tympanon)

Watch this surprising video of an automaton play the dulcimer.

David Roentgen (1743–1807) took his royal patron by surprise when he delivered this beautiful automaton to King Louis XVI for his queen, Marie Antoinette, in 1784. The cabinetry for this piece is very much a neoclassical masterwork, and the mechanism behind it is truly extraordinary: the figure strikes the strings in perfect rhythm with two small metal hammers held in her hands, which move with great precision.

This object, from the Musée des arts et métiers de Paris, is featured in the exhibition Extravagant Inventions: The Princely Furniture of the Roentgens (on view October 30, 2012–January 27, 2013).

See the full video: http://www.cerimes.fr/le-catalogue/la-joueuse-de-tympanon.html

Footage courtesy of CERIMES.

David Roentgen: Long-Case Clock
(00:00:52)

The Roentgens' Berlin Secretary Cabinet
(00:02:20) 10613 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Demonstration
(00:02:17) 16640 views

Rolltop Desk by David Roentgen: Animation
(00:01:00) 3015 views

Pair of five-light candelabra

Luigi Valadier (Italian, Rome 1726–1785 Rome)

Maker:: Possibly in collaboration with Lorenzo Cardelli
Date:: 1774
Culture:: Italian, Rome
Medium:: Porphyry, gilt-bronze
Dimensions:: Each: H. 27 x W. 18 15/16 in. (68.6 x 48.1 cm)
Classification:: Metalwork
Credit Line:: Wrightsman Fund, 1994
Accession Number:: 1994.14.1, .2

This artwork is currently on display in Gallery 553

Description

These were made for the Gallery of Mirrors in Palazzo Borghese, Rome. Prince Marcantonio IV Borghese was billed for them on September 6, 1774. They originally stood on octagonal tables of porphyry, various marbles, and bronze that are now in Villa Borghese, Rome. The figures on the stems are based on ancient marble statues.
Provenance

Palazzo Borghese, RomePrince Marcantionio Borghese , Palazzo Borghese, Rome (1774) ; Puiforcat family collection, Paris (20th century) ; [ Galerie J. Kugel, Paris (until 1994; sold to MMA) ]
See also
Who
Luigi Valadier (3)

Lorenzo Cardelli (1)
What
Metal (59,364)

Copper alloy (16,630)

Metalwork (14,716)

Bronze (11,628)

Gilt (9,043)

Plate (2,675)

Lighting devices (2,632)

Ormolu (1,683)

Candleholders (1,041)

Candelabras (188)

Porphyry (49)
Where
Europe (148,586)

Italy (20,983)

Rome (588)
When
A.D. 1600-1800 (66,179)
In the Museum
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts (43,257)
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
The Neoclassical Temple

Rome and Southern Italy, 1600–1800 A.D.
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David Roentgen's Automaton of Queen Marie Antoinette, The Dulcimer Player (La Joueuse de Tympanon)

Pair of five-light candelabra

Luigi Valadier (Italian, Rome 1726–1785 Rome)

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David Roentgen's Automaton of Queen Marie Antoinette, The Dulcimer Player (La Joueuse de Tympanon)

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Pair of five-light candelabra

Luigi Valadier (Italian, Rome 1726–1785 Rome)

Met Media

Met Kids

Met Store