A striking late 19th century earthenware mask on plinth of good proportions depicting the great Ludvig Van Beethoven by Friedrich Goldschieder (1845-1897). This life mask was originally taken by the Austrian sculptor Franz Klein (1779-1840) in 1812.

Franz Klein was commissioned by the German piano makers Nannette (1769-1833) and Johann Andreas Streicher (1761-1833) to produce a bust of Beethoven. The 42-year-old composer gave the sculptor permission to mould his face in plaster, and the result was the only life mask ever made of the composer. It became the iconic portrait from which all renderings of the musician were derived, the plaster is preserved by Beethoven-Haus in Bonn, Germany. It remains to this day the only completely faithful rendering of Beethoven’s features known, and the standard by which all portraits of him are judged.

It is understood that as the session with the sculptor drew to a close, an impatient Beethoven, feeling as though he were suffocating, took the mask off and threw it to the floor. The mask cracked in pieces. However, the broken mould parts were immediately retrieved by the sculptor who cemented them back together. Klein later utilised the mask as the basis of his commissioned bust. Given its extraordinary detail, magnificent chasing, patina, and particular stylistic details, it closely resembles the period, sand cast bronze busts in the Wien Museum, produced in 1812 and overseen by the sculptor, Franz Klein, himself. The majority of later portraits and sculptures of the composer are based on Klein’s life mask.

This Friedrich Goldschieder example of Klein's work is painted throughout in muted earthy tones and boasts exceptional attention to detail, as is to be expected of a Goldschieder piece.

All associated stamps and marks are present, namely the 'Goldscheider' signature, model number '2285/56/16' and the 'Reproduction Reservee' stamp verso.

Dimensions

Height: 39cm

Width: 15.25cm

Depth: 13.25cm

Delivery

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