Virginal
Technical description: Inner-outer case construction, the inner case and soundboard of cypress, rectangular shape with right rear corner cut off, protruding keyboard, no bottom exterior molding, top exterior molding only on the front side, outer case of painted deal; compass originally 50 notes, C/E-c3, with five split accidentals (F-sharp/ D, G-sharp/E, g-sharp, d1-sharp, g2-sharp), now 47 notes, with the three upper split accidentals removed (the three extra jacks are still present, but do not sit on a lever), jacks are modern replacements, boxwood naturals with boxwood arcades, black-stained hardwood accidentals, the seven lowest keys have signs of previous pull-down cords, keys guided by wooden slips in rear rack; pierced parchment rose in soundboard. (Douglas Maple, 1983)
Artwork Details
- Title: Virginal
- Date: 16th or 17th century
- Geography: Italy
- Culture: Italian
- Medium: Wood and various materials
- Dimensions: Inner Instrument:
perpendicular to keyboard 41.5 cm
parallel to keyboard 156.8 cm
depth 20.8 cm
Overall instrument: 163cm x 60cm x 24cm - Classification: Chordophone-Zither-plucked-virginal
- Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
- Object Number: 89.4.1209
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.