Flemish Harpsichord - Image 3

The 17th-century Flemish interest in allegory, symbolism, and the precise depiction of nature in art is reflected in the decoration of their harpsichord soundboards. These, like the 17th-century Flemish paintings intended to be framed and hung on walls, can be interpreted allegorically. Working from pattern books, painters of harpsichord soundboards created crowded, miniature gardens of stylized flowers, fruits, vegetables, insects, birds, moths, shrimp, snails, and other animals. Some soundboard paintings might be considered allegories of the five senses, a common theme in Flemish still-life paintings of the period, in which flowers are symbolically depicted to please the senses of sight, smell, and touch. Fruits and vegetables symbolically please the sense of taste and birds symbolize the sense of hearing. The harpsichord itself, when played, should be pleasing to the senses of sight, touch, and hearing. The gilt, cast-lead rose displays the maker's initials, GVE, surrounding a putto playing a harp . The date, 1659, is painted in red on the soundboard between the bass end of the eight-foot bridge and the spine.