Guitar
This guitar is probably the only surviving instrument by the Parisian maker Robert Chéron. While little is known about Robert Chéron, he was probably the brother of Nicolas Chéron (b. 1658; † 1691) who also lived at Rue Dauphine for some time. He was presumably the son of an organ builder and potentially a close relation of composer André Chéron. In Brossard's Musiciens De Paris he is described as an instrument player (joueur d'instrument) and also godfather to Robert Duprey, master instrument maker (maître faiseur d'instruments).
The decorative border of ivory and ebony on the soundboard is of a distinctly French design from the late 17th and 18th centuries. The sides are also of ivory and ebony showing that this would have been a highly valuable instrument from the beginning. The neck and the back have either undergone quite intrusive repairs or are replacements probably taken from similar instruments, yet this guitar remains an important piece in understanding the development of the early guitar. (Daniel Wheeldon 2016)
Technical description: Ten-string (five double course) guitar originally converted to six-string guitar; Two-piece pine soundboard with French-style binding with alternating ebony/ivory rhomboids separated by bwbw spacers; soundhole diameter of 80.95 mm with matching binding; bridge replaced; five-piece yew back (possibly not original) with the second and fourth strips decorated with arabesques of ebony, walnut, and mahogany; back of neck and headstock (possibly not original) of ivory veneer with ebony inlaid arabesques continue decorative motif of the back; sides of ivory and ebonized hardwood; ebony fingerboard (not original) with fifteen ivory frets; headstock with ebony veneer (not original) interuppted with ivory inlaid with same arabesque motif as the back; friction tuners (Daniel Wheeldon 2016)
The decorative border of ivory and ebony on the soundboard is of a distinctly French design from the late 17th and 18th centuries. The sides are also of ivory and ebony showing that this would have been a highly valuable instrument from the beginning. The neck and the back have either undergone quite intrusive repairs or are replacements probably taken from similar instruments, yet this guitar remains an important piece in understanding the development of the early guitar. (Daniel Wheeldon 2016)
Technical description: Ten-string (five double course) guitar originally converted to six-string guitar; Two-piece pine soundboard with French-style binding with alternating ebony/ivory rhomboids separated by bwbw spacers; soundhole diameter of 80.95 mm with matching binding; bridge replaced; five-piece yew back (possibly not original) with the second and fourth strips decorated with arabesques of ebony, walnut, and mahogany; back of neck and headstock (possibly not original) of ivory veneer with ebony inlaid arabesques continue decorative motif of the back; sides of ivory and ebonized hardwood; ebony fingerboard (not original) with fifteen ivory frets; headstock with ebony veneer (not original) interuppted with ivory inlaid with same arabesque motif as the back; friction tuners (Daniel Wheeldon 2016)
Artwork Details
- Title: Guitar
- Artist: Robert Chéron (French, 17th century)
- Date: 1694
- Geography: Paris, France
- Culture: French Parisian
- Medium: Wood, ivory, ebony
- Dimensions: Total Length: 866 mm
- Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked-fretted
- Credit Line: Gift of Miss Alice Getty, 1946
- Object Number: 46.34.73
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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