Liszt, Franz. (1811–1886) [Lange, Conrad. (1806-1856)] [Cortot, Alfred. (1877–1962)]
Bronze Medal Portrait, 1846 - FROM THE CORTOT COLLECTION
Uniface bronze left-facing bust portrait medal of the Hungarian virtuoso pianist and composer. Inscribed around the recto "Franc Liszt Nostri Saecvuli Clavichordii Orpheus" and signed to the lower neck "C. Lange." 49 mm. This example of the medal, which Niggl (1134) describes with text also to verso, has seemingly been roughly separated somehow from it's other half, the recto rather rough and pierced with a small nail head, probably from a prior mounting. Niggl also records that Liszt had been presented with a silver example of this medal by Baron Prokesch von Osten on behalf of Hungarian art lovers. Despite condition issues, this is a very rare early medal, with remarkable provenance from the collection of Alfred Cortot (Christie's Paris, 2019), one of the great pianists of all time, famous as well as an important collector of antiquarian music and historical music memorabilia. (23274)Ephemera Classical Music