Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

showing the seven-year-old Wolfgang seated at the harpsichord, his father Leopold standing behind him playing the violin, and his sister Nannerl in the background singing, etched in manière de crayon with contemporary hand-colour, possibly by Carmontelle's studio, laid down on a contemporary mount, gilt, black and green watercolour borders, inscribed in ink ("Mozart père et ses deux enfans. 1777")

35.9 x 23.5cm, modern card mount, framed and glazed (overall size c.47.5 x 36cm), nineteenth-century label to back-board (W. & P. Evans, of Silver St, Golden Sq, London), some surface-loss to the faces, foxing

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This is a rare contemporary copy of one of the most famous of all Mozart portraits, originally executed by Louis Carrogis Carmontelle (1717-1806) in Paris in November 1763.  Carmontelle's original drawing is in the Musée Condé, Chantilly, and there are also copies in the Musée Carnavalet and at Castle Howard.  The coloured copy in the British Museum bears the same legend and dating as here, which appears to have been written by the same hand (BM: 1994,0514.48).  The stipple engraving can be barely discerned beneath the watercolour here; indeed this "crayon manner" was a style of etching specifically designed to resemble a drawing, and may have been produced by Carmontelle's studio to capitalize on the success of his famous original.  Mozart returned to Paris for the first time in 1778. There was also a well-known engraving of the image made by J.-B. Delafosse in 1764 (see Sotheby's sale 8 December 2009, lot 88).