“Stop to admire this 1867 "Flute Harmonique," a beautifully crafted metal instrument that showcases 19th-century musical innovation and the artistry of instrument design. Its unique mechanisms allowed for richer harmonic sounds, pushing the boundaries of musical expression.”
This fascinating instrument, a "Flute Harmonique," stands as a testament to 19th-century innovation in musical design. Crafted from metal, its sleek, elongated form suggests both elegance and precise engineering. Unlike a typical flute, this particular model features a unique mechanism that allowed for the production of harmonic overtones more easily, expanding the sonic palette available to musicians of the era. Its presence in a museum collection today highlights not only its historical significance in the evolution of wind instruments but also its sculptural beauty, showcasing the intricate craftsmanship that went into creating musical tools before mass production became common. The flute's design, with its various keys and levers, invites a closer look at the complex interplay between form and function in musical instrument making.
- Artist
- Maurice
- Date
- 1867
- Medium
- metal
- Location
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Dimensions
- L. 1 ft. 9 in., W. 3-1/2 in., D. 9-1/2 in.
- Collection
- Musical Instruments
- Culture
- French
- Credit line
- The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
What to Notice
Five details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Observe the polished metal surface, reflecting light in subtle ways.
Look closely at the intricate keywork and levers along the body.
Note the precisely cut finger holes and their spacing.
Examine the delicate mouthpiece and its opening.
1 more detail is waiting.
See all 5 in Art Whisper →Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Flute Harmonique — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Maurice
The artist behind vibrant Fauvist street scenes and colorful depictions of Paris and French villages.
Further Works by Maurice
Springtime
1889 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
André Derain
1906 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Relief
1960 · National Museum in Warsaw
[A.H. Wenzler]
1860 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
[Eugene Benson]
1860 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
[Morrell]
1860 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Large Boston Public Garden Sketchbook: The Huntington Avenue Streetcar
1895 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Self-Portrait
1927 · Philadelphia Museum of Art
More works to explore
Beyond Maurice: works from the same years.
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Barks Fleeing Before the Storm
Léon-Victor Dupré · 1870 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
The Backgammon Players
Philip Webb · 1861 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Paris Street; Rainy Day
Kawabata Gyokushō · 1877 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Approaching Storm
William Hart · 1867 · Gilcrease Museum
Same era · 1850s–1880s
The Beach at Sainte-Adresse
Claude Monet · 1867 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
In the Auvergne
Jean-François Millet · 1866 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Patio of the Palace of the Duke of Alba, Seville: Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta painting
Mariano Fortuny Marsal · 1868 · Hispanic Society of America
Same era · 1850s–1880s
The Banks of the Marne in Winter
Camille Pissarro · 1866 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
The Races at Longchamp
Édouard Manet · 1866 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
The Valley of Les Puits-Noir
Gustave Courbet · 1868 · Art Institute of Chicago
Same era · 1850s–1880s
A Woman Seated beside a Vase of Flowers (Madame Paul Valpinçon?)
Edgar Degas · 1865 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Same era · 1850s–1880s
Mountain View at Bormio (from Switzerland 1869 Sketchbook)
John Singer Sargent · 1869 · The Metropolitan Museum of Art
