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, probably by Carmontelle's studio,

in a gilt card mount (41.8 x 28cm), framed and glazed (overall size c.44 x 31.5cm), [Paris, c.1777], very slight spotting but otherwise sound and clean

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 contemporary hand-coloured copy of one of the most famous of all Mozart portraits, by Louis Carrogis Carmontelle (1717-1806).  Carmontelle's original drawing (in the Musée Condé, Chantilly) dates from the Mozart family's first visit to Paris in 1763, and was popularized through engraved versions made by J.-B. Delafosse in 1764 (see Sotheby's sale 8 December 2009, lot 88).  Carmontelle may have produced this hand-coloured etching through his own studio, to capitalize on the success of his portrait and also to coincide with Mozart's first return visit to Paris in 1778.   It is executed in manière de crayon, a technique devised in late eighteenth-century France to reproduce drawings as closely and convincingly as possible.   Indeed, the stipple engraving can be barely discerned beneath the contemporary watercolour.   Other copies of this hand-coloured etching can be found at Castle Howard and the British Museum; they bear an inscription and date (1777) in the lower margin, whereas here this space is covered by the mount.  See also the copy sold at Sotheby's on 28 May 2015, lot 261.