Maestros and their motorcars (8): Go, go, Joachim
UncategorizedThe imposing violinist died in August 1907, but not before he went out for a spin.
Or was it a photographic studio fake?
With Joseph Joachim (2nd from right) are the Mendelssohns: Robert von Mendelssohn, his wife, Giulietta Gordigiani, Franz von Mendelssohn, JJ, Franz’s wife, Maria Westphal.
Obviously a photo prop, like those you put your face in at carnivals and the like.
To determine the authenticity of the photo, why not summon the spirit of Joachim at a seance ? That’s how his great-niece Jelly d’Aranyi said he told her about the Schumann violin concerto.
It’s an interesting photo, but I think the occupants of the vehicle have been assembled by cut-and-paste or some-such manner. Also, the little car is obviously a cartoon / drawing. Reminds me of the painting ‘Franz Liszt Fantasizing at the Piano’ (1840) by Josef Danhauser. The imagined company are: Liszt at a Graf piano, George Sand and Alexandre Dumas seated, Marie d’Agoult on the floor, Berlioz OR Victor Hugo, Rossini and Paganini all standing. Also included is a bust of Beethoven on the piano, a portrait of Lord Byron hangs on the wall and a statue of Joan of Ark stands on a side table. If you haven’t seen it, just google. It’s a great piece.
This seems like a painted car and a painted studio backdrop.
Exactly — you see similar photographic portraits of that era with people “sitting in a rowboat” on a “lake” with choppy waves and such.
Brahms missed out by 10 years! What a pity his friend got to ride in a flash car and the great composer didn’t!
Sets like this car were a fixture of portrait photographers’ studios in those days.
He wouldn’t have ridden in a real car because he didn’t approve of vibratio
From the man who can’t distinguish a street car from a bus.