The plain clavichord replaces a piano that stood in Cornelia’s room while she lived there. Cornelia was an extremely talented pianist. The works she liked playing best were those of Johann Schobert, who died young and is virtually forgotten today, and whose music profoundly touched her. A small drawing by Goethe’s hand (to the right of the entrance door) may depict his sister Cornelia playing piano.

After Johann Wolfgang left home to study in Leipzig, their father devoted his entire didactic energy to Cornelia, who remained at home, and who not only had to deepen her knowledge of language for several hours a day, but also practice piano.