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Gertrude Clarke Whittall Foundation collection on Nicolò Paganini, 1810-1967

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BOX 1-9, 13-19, 28 Iconography, 1810-1926 (bulk 1830-1840)
This series contains images of Paganini, other people, objects, and places. The materials include lithographs, engravings, watercolors, oil prints, pen drawings, photographs, negatives, and other types of visual media that were created in England, France, Italy, Germany, and Austria.
Portraits of Paganini comprise the majority of these materials, many of which are simple busts or depict him either holding or playing the violin. In several images he plays solely on one string, a technique for which he was widely known. In others, Paganini plays with his violin tilted downward and close to the body, enabling him to perform highly virtuosic passages.
In a small number of images, Paganini performs with other musicians, including composer and close friend Gioachino Rossini, pianist Johann Baptist Cramer, cellist Richard Lindley, double bassist Domenico Dragonetti, and violinist Nicolas Mori. An original wash drawing depicts him playing outside the bedchamber of Maria Anna Bacciochi, Napoleon Bonaparte’s sister. In another image, he accompanies ballet dancer Marie Taglioni. Additional portraits show him in prison or on his deathbed. Paganini inscribed two portraits in this series, including an engraved half-portrait from 1830 in which he holds a violin and bow, and a pen drawing from 1832.
These materials also contain a substantial number of caricatures that show him performing in concert halls, sawing blocks of wood, firing a cannon, or playing the violin with a broomstick. Of note are the many images in which demons and witches appear. This connection with evil creatures recalls the wide-spread legend that Paganini sold his soul to the devil in exchange for remarkable skill and talent. Although the result of ill health, those who saw him perform remarked that his sunken cheeks, pale skin, and thin lips were further evidence of this pact.
The second portion of this series contains portraits of other musicians, including Archangelo Corelli, Gasparo Ghiretti, Franz Liszt, Gioachino Rossini, Louis Spohr, Antonio Stradivari, Giuseppe Tartini, and Giovanni Barista Viotti. Additional images display political figures, including Napoleon Bonaparte and Princess Elise Bacciocci, Elisa the Grand Duchess of Tuscany. Numerous other images depict Paganini’s son, Achille, and other relatives. Finally, there are images of objects, including several instruments that Paganini owned, and locations in Genoa, Nice, and Parma.
Arranged in four file units: Paganini, Portraits of Others, Objects, and Locations.
BOX 1-9. 13-19, 28 Paganini
Arranged chronologically and then alphabetically.
BOX/FOLDER 13/18 Portrait, 1810
After Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres
Clipping; 10.5 x 7.5 cm
Catalog no. 660
BOX/FOLDER 1/4 Portrait, 1811
By Oratio Vernet
Drawing; 19 x 24 cm
Catalog no. 4
BOX/FOLDER 2/2 Portrait, half figure with violin and bow, 1819
By Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres; lithograph by Dujardin
Engraving; 28.5 x 20.6 cm
Catalog no. 15
Note: From the Collection of M. Ach. Bénouville; appeared in the Gazette des Beaux-Arts
BOX/FOLDER 16/12 Nicolo Paganini, circa 1820-1829
By A. Hatzfeld
Lithograph; 20.9 x 16.2 cm
Catalog no. 878
BOX/FOLDER 28/16 Portrait, full figure, 1825
Engraved by Josiah Wood Whimper
Line engraving with statement of receipts; 20 x 13.7 cm
Catalog no. 88
BOX/FOLDER 3/9 Nicolo Paganini. Virtuoso di camera de S. M. Francesco I. Imperatore d' Austria, 1828
By Josef Kriehuber; lithograph by Mansfeld and Cie.
Lithograph portrait; 38 x 25.7 cm
Catalog no. 35
Vienna: Artaria and Compag.
BOX/FOLDER 2/4 Portrait, 1828
Oilprint; 29.6 x 23.2 cm
Catalog no. 17
BOX/FOLDER 4/5 Ritter Nicolo Paganini, der erste Violinspieler seiner Zeit, auf den National Theater in Nürnberg, 1829 November 9
Lithograph full length portrait with violin; 25.8 x 21.6 cm
Catalog no. 47
BOX/FOLDER 3/1 Portrait, 1829
By Franz Krüger
Lithograph; 37 x 26.5 cm
Catalog no. 28
BOX/FOLDER 28/17 Old Pag, 1829?
By James Stephanoff
Pen and ink drawing; 16 x 10.5 cm
Catalog no. 90
BOX/FOLDER 2/10 Niccolo Paganini, 1830
By Ludwig Emil Grimm
Etched portrait; 17.6 x 14 cm
Catalog no. 22
GL ad vir Cassel
BOX/FOLDER 7/7 Portrait, half figure, 1830
By Henry Dawe, after the life portrait by Johann Baptist Siber
Hand-colored mezzotint; 14.6 x 11.3 cm
Catalog no. 115
BOX/FOLDER 1/13 Portrait, half figure with violin and bow, 1830
By Luigi Calamatta, after Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, 1818
Engraving; 40.3 x 29.2 cm
Catalog no. 13
Note: Inscribed by Paganini, 1831
BOX/FOLDER 1/3 Playing before Maria Anna Bacciochi (Napoleon's sister), circa 1830
By T. Johannot
Original, signed wash drawing in color; 27.2 x 22 cm
Catalog no. 3
BOX/FOLDER 7/6 Portrait, half figure, circa 1830
By Henry Dawe, after the life portrait by Johann Baptist Siber
Mezzotint; 15.6 x 12.4 cm
Catalog no. 114
BOX/FOLDER 2/3 N. Paganini, 1830s
By Roberto Focosi
Lithograph portrait; 30.2 x 23.1 cm
Catalog no. 16
Vassalli, Milano, Presso Epimaco e Pasquale Artaria Editori
BOX/FOLDER 5/16 Portrait, half figure, 1831 June 1
Painted by Edouard Pingret at Baden
Lithograph; 21.2 x 15.8 cm
Catalog no. 78
London: M. Bell
BOX/FOLDER 6/8 Signor Paganini, 1831 June 6
By Richard Sawyer, London
Full length caricature etching of Paganini; 25.1 x 16.8 cm
Catalog no. 97
BOX/FOLDER 5/9 The Modern Orpheus, Sketches of the Musical World No. 1, to be continued, 1831 June 10
Lithograph of Paganini on stage with Cramer, Lindly, and Dragonetti Mori; 44 x 29.7 cm
Catalog no. 70
Haymarket: T. McLean
BOX/FOLDER 5/11 Signor Paganini, During One of his Performances at the King's Theatre, 1831 July 12
After a drawing by Daniel Maclise
Lithograph of Paganini on stage with an orchestra; 40 x 30 cm
Catalog no. 73
London: Wm. Spooner
BOX/FOLDER 5/12 Signor Paganini, During One of his Performances at the King's Theatre, 1831 July 12
After a drawing by Daniel Maclise
Color lithograph of Paganini on stage with an orchestra; 42 x 34.2 cm
Catalog no. 73a
London: Wm. Spooner
BOX/FOLDER 7/10 Fiddlestick versus Broomstick, 1831 July 19
By Robert Seymour; printed by Chas Motte, 70 St. Martins Lane, London
Colored lithograph caricature of Paganini performing at a dinner party; 24.8 x 37 cm
Catalog no. 118
Haymarket: T. McLean
BOX/FOLDER 15/15 Portrait, "Verba desunt," 1831 August 1
Painted from life and drawn on stone by W. Franquinet; printed by C. Hullmandel, London
Photographic reproduction of lithograph; 24 x 18.1 cm
Catalog no. 838a
London: John Mitchell
BOX/FOLDER 15/16 Portrait, "Verba desunt," 1831 August 1
Painted from life and drawn on stone by W. Franquinet; printed by C. Hullmandel, London
Photographic reproduction of lithograph; 34.3 x 24.1 cm
Catalog no. 838b
London: John Mitchell
BOX/FOLDER 5/13 Signor Paganini, 1831 September 10
After a drawing by Daniel Maclise
Colored lithograph of Paganini with statement of receipts; 34.5 x 21.5 cm
Catalog no. 74
Note: Underneath: "Statement of receipts in the undermentioned Places since 1825. Besides innumerable Sums at Private Concerts, Presents, and c."
Dublin: Le Petit
BOX/FOLDER 5/8 The Modern Apollo, 1831
On stone by S. Williams
Lithograph of Paganini on stage
Catalog no. 69
Note: Written underneath image: "Receiving the homage of 5,000 persons, after having pocketed £ 2000 for 2 hours' performance! Sketched at his last concert at the Kings Theatre"
London: G. E. Madeley
BOX/FOLDER 4/9 Nicolo Paganini, 1831
By M. Gauci; printed by G. Hullmandel
Lithograph portrait; 24 x 19.2 cm
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