B-11

Type:

Bach Painting

Title:

Portrait in old age, after 1748 (?)

Description:

Discovered and acquired by Fritz Volbach of Mainz (1861-1940), who in 1903 brought it to the attention of the public by publishing it for members of the "Neue Bachgesellschaft" (Year IV/2). It definitely came from Thuringia and was only brought to Mainz in 1847 by a musician from Querfurt. An anatomist from Tübingen, August von Froriep, affirmed its authenticity in 1909 by comparing the corresponding details of Bach's skull (His), but this is now much disputed, especially on account of discrepancies in physiognomy, clothing and hair-style between this and the near-contemporary Haussmann portraits B-01 and B-02. The owner’s attempt to establish its identity by means of the Kittel portrait (cf. p. 398) lacks conviction (Volbach I, II). Only in 1956 was it declared by Besseler (I) to be one of the “Five Genuine Portraits” because of ophthalmological details (asymmetrical eyes and blepharochalasis). There is no proof whatever to justify speculations over this picture’s connection with Bach's journey to Potsdam in 1747 (cf. nos. 569-571, 577, 578).

Measures:

Oil on canvas
73 x 59 cm
In a more recent frame, unsigned and without the subject’s name, but by oral tradition a portrait of Bach.

Creator:

Painter: ?
Year: 1748 ? (Bach-Dokumente); c1750 (TNT)

History:

The last known owner was Professor Walther R. Volbach, Fort Worth, Texas, USA. In catalogue no. 136 (1969) of the music antiquarian Hans Schneider of Tutzing it was listed as no. 2149 and offered for sale for DM 150,000.

Current Location:

Photograph by:

Reproduced from a color print published by Merseburger, Leipzig, 1950.

Comments:

Buy book at:

Amazon.de [Bach-Dokumente]

Source/Links: Bach-Dokumente: Bilddokumente zur Lebensgeschichte Johann Sebastian Bachs: Bd 4 (Bärenreiter, 1979) | The Face of Bach
Contributor: Aryeh Oron & Thomas Braatz (December 2007 - January 2008)