Salzburg, 2005. 20 x 20 cm, 22 pp. Beautiful reproduction of the last known portrait of Mozart from April 1789. This exquisite silverpoint drawing passed from Christian Gottfried Körner (consistory advisor in Dresden and brother-in-law of Doris Stock) to Friedrich Förster, to Carl Eckert the conductor, to Henri Hinrichsen proprietor of C.F. Peters, to Albi Rosenthal antiquarian bookseller, and is now in the International Stiftung Mozarteum. Doris Stock studied with her father, the copper engraver Johann Michael Stock in Leipzig, and was an excellent painter of pastels and miniatures. Mozart’s visits with Doris Stock are nicely documented in “Memoires of My Youth” by Gustav Parthey. It was probably during one of these visits that Doris Stock drw Mozart’s profile. The silverpoint drawing is one of the few authentic Mozart portraits in the world and indeed the last that was completed during his lifetime. Commentary in Ger/Eng/Fr. Limited bibliophile edition, suitable for framing. $35
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| "Mozart himself, during his brief stay in Dresden, visited the Körner household nearly every day. He was absolutely captivated by the charming and intelligent Doris and with his south-German temperament he made her all sorts of naïve compliments. He usually came shortly before dinner and after speaking effusively and making gallant conversation he would sit down at the piano and start playing fantasies. In the adjoining room the table would be set, the soup brought in and the servant announced that dinner was served. But who could get up and leave when Mozart was playing the piano! The soup was allowed to get cold; the roast was burnt so that we could all continue to hear the magical sounds produced on the instrument by the master who was completely lost in himself and unaware of what was going on around him. However, in the end even the most supreme musical pleasure can become a strain when the stomach starts rumbling. After the soup had been allowed to go cold a few times during Mozart's playing, it was decided to take action. Doris gently placed her snow-white arm on his shoulder and said 'Mozart, we are going to dine. Do you want to eat with us?' 'I kiss your hand, madam, I'll be there very soon!' But the one person who did not come was Mozart. He continued to play as if nothing had happened. And, as Doris related, we often had the most select dinner music played by Mozart to accompany us as we ate. After dinner we found him still sitting at the piano". (Gustav Parthey, Memoires of My Youth) |
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