18th-Century Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 34

[cahn]

And including Emperor Joseph II!

from Derek Beales: Joseph II, Volume 2: Against the World, 1780 - 1790:

Joseph's alleged comment to Mozart about the Entführung, "Too many notes", has been taken as evidence of his ignorance. But he probably said something like, "Too beautiful for our ears, and monstrous many notes." It is always necessary to bear in mind, when appraising the emperor's remarks, his peculiar brand of humor or sarcasm. He was usually getting at someone. And he did not use the royal "we". The ears in question were those of the Viennese audience, whom he was mocking for their limited appreciation of Mozart's elaborate music.

(though not gonna lie, I think it is a LOT of notes)

Comments

Re: Fritz and Female Nudity in Art

[selenak]

Haven't seen it, no. Identifying himself with Mary Magdelene, hm. My first instinct is to say no, if for no other reason than raised by FW the Calvinist!Fritz lacks the Catholic cultural context for Mary Magdalene having this particular meaning to him. Otoh: maybe he brushed up on his saints before writing the Palladion, and at any rate, he did choose the picture, and it's certainly a very unusual Magdalene (i.e. showing her reading and without the symbols of penitence otherwise in most depictions).

On the non-existing third hand, his withdrawing into loneliness didn't stop him from building an extra palace just for representation and showing off his Silesian marble & superpower status. :) (Some Magdalene.)