Wagner, Richard. (1813–1883). Large Signed Photograph with Autograph Musical Quotation incorporating the Composer's Name.
Impressive and unusually large inscribed three-quarter-length photograph of the German composer, later "Master of Bayreuth," from his sojourn in Vienna in 1861, credited to Ludwig Angerer (1827–1879), imperial court photographer in Vienna. Autograph musical quotation to lower margin—an excerpt from an unidentified composition, one staff, four measures, 3/4, without key signature; dedication as text underlay and amusingly incorporating the composer's name: "Seinem Seraphinenpüppchen [to Seraphine, his little doll)] Richard Wagner." The printed header, "Album der Zeitgenossen" [Album of contemporaries], identifies this issue of the mounted photograph as from the series of the same name that Franz Hanfstaengl (1804–1877), court photographer in Munich, compiled over the second half of the 1850s. 17 x 13.25 inches (43 x 33.5 cm). In very fine condition. Framed. An extremely rare document, particularly noteworthy for the musical quotation.
"When Wagner came to Vienna in 1861, Dr. Joseph Standhartner, physician to Empress Elisabeth, invited him to stay in his apartment. His niece Seraphine Mauro lived In the same house and was charge of Wagner's housekeeping. Half Italian, half Viennese, she had a 'white marble face framed by the blackest imaginable curls that extended down to her full bust'. How could Wagner have remained unmoved by such appetizing prettiness? She had already attracted the composer Peter Cornelius from whom Wagner took her ruthlessly. 'Seraphinchen,' the little doll, remained Wagner's favorite—for the time being." (after Martin Gregor-Dellin, Richard Wagner. Sein Leben, sein Werk, sein Jahrhundert, Munich 1980, p. 475). As the correspondence between Wagner and Seraphine was destroyed later, few details are known about the relationship.
Wagner, Richard. (1813–1883). Large Signed Photograph with Autograph Musical Quotation incorporating the Composer's Name.
Impressive and unusually large inscribed three-quarter-length photograph of the German composer, later "Master of Bayreuth," from his sojourn in Vienna in 1861, credited to Ludwig Angerer (1827–1879), imperial court photographer in Vienna. Autograph musical quotation to lower margin—an excerpt from an unidentified composition, one staff, four measures, 3/4, without key signature; dedication as text underlay and amusingly incorporating the composer's name: "Seinem Seraphinenpüppchen [to Seraphine, his little doll)] Richard Wagner." The printed header, "Album der Zeitgenossen" [Album of contemporaries], identifies this issue of the mounted photograph as from the series of the same name that Franz Hanfstaengl (1804–1877), court photographer in Munich, compiled over the second half of the 1850s. 17 x 13.25 inches (43 x 33.5 cm). In very fine condition. Framed. An extremely rare document, particularly noteworthy for the musical quotation.
"When Wagner came to Vienna in 1861, Dr. Joseph Standhartner, physician to Empress Elisabeth, invited him to stay in his apartment. His niece Seraphine Mauro lived In the same house and was charge of Wagner's housekeeping. Half Italian, half Viennese, she had a 'white marble face framed by the blackest imaginable curls that extended down to her full bust'. How could Wagner have remained unmoved by such appetizing prettiness? She had already attracted the composer Peter Cornelius from whom Wagner took her ruthlessly. 'Seraphinchen,' the little doll, remained Wagner's favorite—for the time being." (after Martin Gregor-Dellin, Richard Wagner. Sein Leben, sein Werk, sein Jahrhundert, Munich 1980, p. 475). As the correspondence between Wagner and Seraphine was destroyed later, few details are known about the relationship.