Portrait of Joseph Haydn

Guttenbrunn’s portrait of Haydn exists in two versions. It is possible that the first dates from his encounter with Haydn at the Esterh�zy court in the early 1770s, and the second from their encounter in London in the early 1790s. The second version is more detailed than the first, and was the basis for an engraving (1792) by Luigi Schiavonetti.

The portrait shows Haydn in the act of composing: he is seated at a keyboard, gazing into the distance, testing out notes with one hand and putting pen to paper with the other.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 5 minutes):

Joseph Haydn: Trumpet Concerto in E Flat (3rd movement)