Debussy, Claude. (1862–1918) [Cortot, Alfred. (1877–1962)]

Portrait Medal Plaquette - FROM THE CORTOT COLLECTION

Cast bronze portrait medallion of the important composer by Pierre Turin. Obverse: Bust-length relief in profile, turned to the left. Bearded, wearing jacket, hair parted on the left. Inscribed below the image CLAUDE DEBUSSY. With the name P. TURIN below the beard. Reverse inscribed CLAUDE DEBUSSY / 1862-1918 / CETTE MEDAILLE / A ÉTÉ FRAPPÉE / A L'OCCASION / DE L'ÉRECTION / DES MONUMENTS DE / CLAUDE DEBUSSY / A PARIS / ET A ST GERMAINE EN LAYE. Rectangular, 1.5 x 2.25 inches (4.2 x 5.9 cm). Niggl 538.  With remarkable provenance from the collection of Alfred Cortot (Christie's Paris, 2019), one of the great pianists of all time, famously as well as an important collector of antiquarian music and historical music memorabilia.

One of the most important interpreters of the piano music of Debussy, Cortot also contributed an essay in French about his music for the special edition of "La Revue musicale" of December 1920, which commemorated the recently-deceased composer. This was translated into English and published in book form in 1922.  (23262)
Ephemera
Classical Music