Anton Wilhelm Tischbein (Haina 1730-1804 Hanau)
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Anton Wilhelm Tischbein (Haina 1730-1804 Hanau)

Personifications of Music and Drawing

Details
Anton Wilhelm Tischbein (Haina 1730-1804 Hanau)
Personifications of Music and Drawing
the latter inscribed 'Trio/aus der Zauberflöte/von Mozart/Soll ich dich Theurer nicht Sehn. [sic]' (on the music sheet)
oil on canvas
12 x 11 in. (30.5 x 28 cm.)
a pair (2)
Provenance
Mrs. Maria Roccholl, Munich, by whom acquired at the beginning of the last century, and by whom presented to the present owner.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

The Personification of Music is singing the Terzette 'Soll ich dich, Teurer, nicht mehr sehn?' (Act II:19) from Mozart's last, and most ambitious, opera, The Magic Flute. Surrounded by Masonic priests Pamina is brought to Tamino to say farewell before he embarks on his last two ordeals before he will be admitted in the Temple of Wisdom. Fearing for his life on those dangerous tests she expresses her unconditional love for him.

Written in Mozart's native language, the opera, first performed in Vienna in 1791, immediately became enormously popular in German-speaking countries. The present picture, which can be dated towards the end of the eighteenth century, is therefore a rare contemporary demonstration of Die Zauberflöte's rapid establishment as a centrepiece of period Germanic culture.

We are grateful to Dr. Marianne Heinz for confirming the attribution on the basis of transparencies.

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