International studio (34.1908)

Decorative Art in Piano Cases

elaborate carvings and
pierced scroll work in Louis
XV style. The exterior of
the case is painted with
conventional ornaments
and medallions represent-
ing cupids and flowers.
The outside of the cover
bears a coat of arms of the
Strozzi family. The inte-
rior has a medallion repre-
senting a love scene. Two
coats of arms of the Strozzi
family and that of the city
of Florence appear upon an
ivory plaque in the front
board.
Lorenzo Gusnasco, of
Pavia, was both a skilled
musician and a mechanic,
and his whole life was de-
voted to the construction
of musical instruments of
the finest quality. It was
Lodovico Moro who first
discovered the rare talents


HARPSICHORD

LOUIS XV STYLE


HARPSICHORD BY JEROME DE ZENTIS, ITALY, 1658

of this “ master of or-
gans,” as he was styled
by his contemporaries,
and it was for Beatrice
d’Este’s use that he be-
gan to make those won-
derful clavichords and
lutes and viols that made
his name famous
throughout Italy. In his
hands the manufacture
of musical instruments
was carried to the high-
est pitch of excellence.
He grudged no labor
and spared no pains to
make his work perfect.
The choicest ebony and
ivory, the most precious
woods and delicate
strings were sought out
by him, the best scholars
supplied him with Greek
and Latin epigrams to be
inscribed upon his or-
gans and harpsichords.
In his opinion both ma-

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