European
Franz Liszt's and Student's Hand, late 19th century
Plaster, 19.7 x 14 x 7.6 cm (7 3/4 x 5 1/2 x 3 in.)
This is a life like sculpture of two plaster cast hands, one on top of the other in a horizontal position. The hands are creamed colored and full of tiny dark holes, indicative of aging plaster. The hand on the top is a left hand, facing to our right and is slightly turned up at the wrist. Its thumb is straight, while the fingers are curled and hold the hand beneath. The lower hand is seen predominately at the wrist and is otherwise obscured by the top hand.
Yellow Room
Commentary
Composer, pianist, conductor, and teacher Franz Liszt was a vital force in the evolution of European classical music in the 19th century. Isabella Stewart Gardner was a great admirer of Liszt and happened to be in Bayreuth, Germany, when the composer passed away in 1886. She attended the funeral with the operatic soprano Amalie Materna and was among those invited to cast a shovel of earth onto his coffin as he was buried.