realization of his plans, and that "without the aid of craftsmen he [had] nearly finished [the project]" [11]. This statement, though apparently based on Castel's own remarks, is misleading because no full-sized clavecin pour les yeux was ever built. Albert Wellek concluded, after investigating all of the documents pertaining to the issue, "Above all there can be no doubt that Castel's construction was certainly begun, but by no means did this lead to a fortunate termination" [12]. There also seems to be little evidence that the model of Castel's instrument performed according to his expectations. A copy of the 1757 brochure entitled Explanation of the Ocular Harpsichord Upon Shew to the Public (the anonymous translation of Castel's essay