Johann Christian Fischer (1733-1800)

Johann Christian Fischer was a German composer and virtuoso oboe player. He played frequently at court and became a member of the Queen’s Band. Fanny Burney described his performing technique as 'the sweet-flowing, melting, celestial notes of Fischer's hautboy'. It is likely that the piano on which he leans in this painting is a pianoforte-harpsichord, patented by John Joseph Merlin in 1774.