March 15, 2008

New Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart portrait found
posted by Hank Mabuse 16 years ago
  • It is a nice red coat.
  • Too many strokes.
  • Obviously photoshopped. joking, joking!
  • You can tell by the pixels and by seeing a lot of 'shops in your time?
  • I'm no art expert, but to my eyes the 1793 and 1819 portraits don't look that different.
  • The Kraft portrait softens his face a bit, makes it rounder, particularly lessens the strong chin & gives him less forehead - or rather brings the hairline of the wig down a bit. Presumably the Kraft portrait is based on engravings or some such. Either way, it's a pretty good job.
  • Looks like it was based on this family portrait from circa 1780.
  • It shows him in 1783, aged 27, dressed in a red tunic and a white ruff, with a wig of grey hair and an elegant but slightly hooked nose. Mmm yes, yes, and also WE HATE THE JEWS. Sorry . . sorry, that was a bit over the top. I . . I haven't had caffeine in over 20 minutes. Sorry.
  • The Buddha has an elegant but slightly hooked nose.
  • Here's more of the text of that letter of Mozart's to Baroness von Waldstadten from Vienna, 28 September 1782: (Mersmann/Bozman translation: London, 1928) "...That beautiful red coat which took my fancy so vastly, pray, pray let me know where it is to be had, and at what price—for that I have quite forgotten, having been unable to take in anything at the time but its splendor! Indeed such a coat I must have—one which will really do justice to certain buttons with which my fancy has long gone pregnant! I saw them once, when I was choosing buttons for a suit, in the Kohlmarkt at Brandau's button-shop, opposite the Milano. They are made of mother-of-pearl, with some sort of white stones around the edge and a fine yellow stone set in the centre of each. I should like to have all my things of good quality, workmanship, and appearance! How is it, I wonder, that those who have not the means would be prepared to spend any amount on such articles, while those who have the means— do not do so!..." Amen, Brother Wolfgang. Amen.
  • Nannerl's flattop wig looks like the kid from House Party.
  • Nannerl sounds like a sandwich spread made of bananas and...what? Oil?
  • Nan, Nan, Nan, Nan of erl, erl, erl...
  • Elegant: 1. Tastefully ornate in dress. a. Characterized by refinement, grace, or propriety. [OED, 1933] For what it's worth.
  • PA, now I really miss Fes.