LISZT F.Livre Rare Book
Liszt, Franz; and Siloti, AlexanderBiblio.com
RICHLY-HUED BLACK AND WHITE VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPH PORTRAIT OF ALEXANDER SILOTI WITH FRANZ LISZT.
1883réf. 101428circa 1883. circa 1883. Very good. - A richly-hued 10 inch high by 9 inch wide gelatin silver portrait depicting the celebrated young Russian pianist Alexander Siloti standing in front of a studio backdrop attired in a gray or brown three piece suit with silk bow-tie his right hand rests on the top of the edge of a book which stands on a dark fabric covered table at right. Siloti is leaning forward slightly his left arm resting on the back of a chair in which sits his stern-looking teacher Franz Liszt. Liszt depicted seated in three-quarter profile long white hair neatly combed into a mane at his back seems to exude power. The charismatic composer attired in a formal long-tailed dark suit sits up straight with his arms folded across his chest. A few small light brown spots from the chemical photographic fixer mar the image. The right & left edges are creased with small pieces out from the top corners and a five inch tear running down the left side approximately 1/4 inch in from the edge. A tiny tear at center near the top is hardly noticeable. The tears have been repaired from the verso with linen-tape. A very powerful image which could be rendered extraordinary with careful matting. Alexander Siloti 1863-1945. Siloti the celebrated Russian pianist studied with Tchaikovsky at the Moscow Conservatory 1876-1881 and as a young man with Liszt from 1883 until his teacher's death in 1886. He established a reputation as one of Liszt's greatest pupils. The photograph was purchased at auction as part of the Steinway collection. Another copy of this photo is on display at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. It was inscribed to Gardner by Siloti in 1898. Siloti stated that the photo was created in 1883. The photograph is the work of Liszt protege Louis Held 1851-1927. Siloti is said to have been particularly proud of this photograph. [circa 1883].
