FRANCO-FLEMISH HARPSICHORD APPEAL
The instrument before restoration
Mercurius Company has been in the fore-front of the Early Music scene with pioneering projects reuniting Baroque dance, music and acting in the UK and abroad. We have been running educational projects with talented young artists drawn mainly from the Royal schools of music in London, in fully funded productions.
It has come to our attention that an incredibly rare historic harpsichord built in Antwerp c.1620 and renovated (\'ravalement\') in Paris 1750 and c.1775, privately owned in the UK, is now going for sale. This is a unique instrument of utmost historical importance which is presently being renovated by a leading authority in Edinburgh. This incredibly fine instrument has a 17th-century inside lid painting of a landscape, while the outside case (decorated during the renovations in Paris) is totally covered in gold leaf and with \'Vernis Martin\' oil painting over gold of several \'putti\', attributed to François Boucher. Equally importantly is the fact that, once restored, the instrument will provide a unique insight of the sound of a 17th-century Flemish instrument (originally a transposing one) which was extended during the 18th-century to fit the purposes of that period.
Details of the outer-case painting
Given the economic downturn and consequent lack of funds by museums and educational institutions, there is a high risk of the harpsichord being sold to private collectors abroad, thus depriving the general public to benefit from this world heritage. Mercurius Company therefore is launching an appeal to raise the funds necessary to purchase, exhibit and pursue educational and artistic activities using this instrument. Once purchased and completely restored, the instrument will be exhibited in a long-term loan to a museum of instruments in London. More importantly, we have planned an extensive series of educational projects in the form of a residency at the exhibiting museum, giving continuation to our activities: auditioning singers, dancers, actors and instrumentalists to join Mercurius in projects centred around this marvellous instrument. Additionally, harpsichord and keyboard students from all over the UK (and indeed internationally) will have access to the instrument through workshops and ongoing teaching, since the museum in question is associated to a leading music school in London.
Outer-case and sound board after restoration
Once the harpsichord is purchased by Mercurius and exhibited as planned, the public would have the rare opportunity not only to see such a glorious work of visual arts, but also to hear it performed live. The instrument would help the understanding of musical issues (such as keyboard technique, cementing of sonority in chamber and orchestral music), historical issues (such as the development of historical keyboard instruments and construction techniques), and stimulate intellectual development (fomenting transfer of knowledge and research). Its importance would echo in artistic and academic circles worldwide and it could easily become a reference for performers, researchers, musicologists and art historians.
We need to raise in excess of £300,000.00 in order to purchase the instrument, thus ensuring the artistic and academic community - as well as the public - have access to this magnificent musical and artistic legacy.
Should you wish to hear more about the harpsichord, our educational plans, discuss our appeal or indeed to make a pledge for contribution, please contact Dr Ricardo Barros via
ricardo@mercuriuscompany.co.uk.
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