Onslow, George. (1784–1853)
Original Portrait Lithograph, ca. 1820
Lithograph portrait engraving of the French composer of English descent, shown in half-length, slightly turned to right, looking forward. With some spots, small nicks and a minor tear and a collection stamp in margin, but overall in very good condition. 7.5 x 9.75 inches (19 x 25 cm).Esteemed by many of the critics of his time, Onslow was especially celebrated in Germany and England, but his reputation declined swiftly after his death and has only been revived in recent years. A student of Anton Reicha in Paris, his wealth, position and personal tastes allowed him to pursue a path unfamiliar to most of his French contemporaries, more similar to that of his contemporary German romantic composers. His principal output was chamber music (including 36 string quartets and 34 string quintets!) but he also wrote four symphonies and four operas. In 1825 in Paris he met the 16-year-old Felix Mendelssohn, who enjoyed a performance of one of Onslow's quartets and in 1831 Onslow was elected the second Honorary Fellow of the Philharmonic Society of London (Felix Mendelssohn had been the first). In 1834, Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt played Onslow's Grand Sonata for four hands Op. 22 at their debut joint performance in Paris and from 1835 to 1838 Onslow was the President of the Athenée musical in Paris, an association founded in 1829 "to propagate the study and the spirit of music", with the intention of bringing together both amateurs and professionals. (10488)
Unsigned Photo/Portrait Classical Music