The Musician of Jaquet-Droz, was finished in 1773 at the same time as the draughtsman.

She appears alive, thanks to her manner of playing, leaning ahead (like looking at the partitions), obreathing, turning the head and of finishing by looking at her listeners and drawing her reverence.

Beautiful and gracious girl, she sat in front of a flute instrument called at this time the "organized harpsichord".

The keyboard of 24 keys is laid out in two arcs, from whose center swivel the arms of the automaton.

When the finger presses on the key, a pilot is inserted in a small hole of the "sommier" and opens the valve.

The air, which is permanently in the "sommier", penetrates the corresponding flute and the note is played.

Description du mécanisme:

The Musician measures 1 meter 80 tall, she has four mechanisms.

The first, completely independent, the harmonium, laid at the base of the musical instrument, acts on two bellows which prove compressed air to the flutes.

The three other mechanisms are under the seat. They are connected between them and start one another to form a very complicated group.

One of the mechanisms functions for a long time without having to be restarted, making it possible for the Musician to be animated even if she does not play. This gives her the illusion of the life (movement of the eyes, the head, the body and the breathing).

The fourth mechanism, located above the principal mechanism, is independent and it makes it possible for the musician to achieve her reverence.