Harpsichord Painted with Views of the Roman Countryside and Figures

The subject

An idyllic landscape composed of buildings in a pastoral setting. This is what magically appears by lifting the lid of this precious 18th century harpsichord, all of which is painted in oil colours.

The background of the piece is dominated by a turreted monument, which is probably the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella on the Appian Way.

The painting

The tradition of painting landscapes and figures on large musical instruments such as the harpsichord arose around the early 17th century in Naples, an important centre for experimentation.

This trend soon crossed the borders of Campania and reached the papal city. Giuliano Briganti attributed the decorative painting embellishing this harpsichord to Paolo Anesi, based upon Anesi’s unmistakable style in depicting leaves and his range of colour.