Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Think that you may own a portrait of composer Joseph Haydn? We authenticate, appraise, research and issue certificates of authenticity (COA) and provide consultations for all portraits of Joseph Haydn.
Joseph Haydn was one of the most prominent composers of the Classical period, and is called by some the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet".
A life-long resident of Austria, Haydn spent most of his career as a court musician for the wealthy Eszterházy family on their remote estate. Isolated from other composers and trends in music until the later part of his long life, he was, as he put it, "forced to become original".
Seven authentic portraits exist of Joseph Haydn. Austrian painter Ludwig Guttenbrunn (1750-1819) depicted Haydn in Portrait #1. This portrait, painted in 1770, shows Haydn composing at his piano.
Portrait #2 was painted by John Hoppner in 1791. Hoppner (1758-1810) studied art at the Royal Academy in England. Although the artist had a love for painting landscapes, he turned to painting portraits out of financial necessity.
Portrait #3 is one of the most famous portraits Haydn. It was painted in 1792 by English artist Thomas Hardy (1757-1805).
George Dance painted Portrait #4 in 1794. Dance (1741-1825) was a very successful architect. However, he was best known for his many drawings of people that he completed from 1793-1810. Most of his drawings are half-length profiles that face to the left.
William Daniell (1769-1837) painted Portrait #5 in 1794. He styled the portrait after George Dance. Daniell put his own signature on many of Dance's half-length portraits. Several of Daniell's portraits were published in two volumes in 1814.
Both Portrait #6 and Portrait #7 were painted in 1795 by Johann Zitterer (1730-1797). The portraits appear to have been painted at the same time. Both show the composer seated at the piano.
Additionally, Haydn was painted posthumously. One painting was by artist Fritz Rumpf. There are other paintings but identifying information is vague. There is a chance that another authentic painting could surface. Haydn was frequently depicted and there could easily be more paintings in existence. Still wondering about a portrait in your family collection? Contact us... it could be of Joseph Haydn.