Signed Photograph

Rare signed Benque of Paris cabinet profile bust portrait photograph of the French composer, inscribed to the conductor Narcisse Brument: "à mon excellent chef d'orchestre N. Brument. Cordial souvenir, Augusta Holmès." Single pin hole to upper edge, else fine. 4.25 x 6.4 inches (10.4 x 16.2 cm). 

A rare autograph item from the French composer of Irish descent (her father was from Youghal, Co. Cork) who in 1871, became a French citizen and added the accent to her last name. Denied the opportunity to study piano at the Paris Conservatoire as a child despite her talents, Holmès would go on to become a well-known and successful composer, unusual for a woman in Europe at the time.  She studied with César Franck, and Saint-Saëns wrote of her, "Like children, women have no idea of obstacles, and their willpower breaks all barriers. Mademoiselle Holmès is a woman, an extremist." (18750)

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Signed Photograph

Opera

Classical Music

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