Joseph Lange
Encyclopedia
Joseph Lange was an actor and amateur painter of the 18th century. Through his marriage to Aloysia Weber
, he was the brother-in-law of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
.
He married Aloysia in Vienna on 31 October 1780. In that year he also agreed to support Aloysia's widowed mother Cäcilia with an annual payment of 700 florins.
Mozart married Aloysia's younger sister Constanze
in Vienna in 1782, and thus became Lange's brother-in-law. The Mozarts and the Langes seem to have been friends, as the written record preserves various occasions that they socialized together, as did Wolfgang and Joseph individually. Both Lange and Mozart were Masons; see Mozart and Freemasonry
.
In 1783, Lange performed in one of Mozart's works, a "Masquerade" (pantomime with music) composed for Carnival
. The characters were traditional figures of the Commedia dell'arte
, and the music was composed by Mozart (K. 446). Lange played Pierrot, and Mozart himself took the role of Harlequin.
He painted his famous (unfinished) portrait of his brother-in-law in 1783. The painting is usually printed showing only Mozart's face, leaving out the incomplete portion (the original intent was evidently to portray Mozart seated at the piano).
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Constanze, interviewed in old age by Vincent and Mary Novello, said this portrait was "by far the best likeness of him."
Lange also painted a portrait of Constanze in 1782:
During Leopold Mozart
's visit to Vienna in 1785, Lange drew a portrait of him as well, but this is lost.
In 1787, Lange appeared in another work by Mozart, his opera Der Schauspieldirektor
. He took the spoken role of Herz., his wife Aloysia taking one of the two primary soprano roles, Madame Herz.
A report from 1788 indicates that he had given up painting by that time.
As of 1795, he lived separated from Aloysia. In 1808, he published his autobiography. From around 1800 on he lived together with a Therese Koch with whom he had three daughters.
Aloysia Weber
Maria Aloysia Louise Antonia Weber was a German soprano, remembered primarily for her association with the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.-Biography:...
, he was the brother-in-law of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
.
Life
His first marriage, in 1775, was to Maria Anna Elisabeth Schindler, daughter of Philipp Ernst Schindler, a miniature painter and director of painting at the Viennese porcelain factory. Maria Anna died on 14 March 1779 of pneumonia.He married Aloysia in Vienna on 31 October 1780. In that year he also agreed to support Aloysia's widowed mother Cäcilia with an annual payment of 700 florins.
Mozart married Aloysia's younger sister Constanze
Constanze Mozart
Constanze Mozart was the wife of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.-Early years:Constanze Weber was born in Zell im Wiesental. Her mother was Cäcilia Weber, née Stamm. Her father Fridolin Weber worked as a "double bass player, prompter and music copyist." Fridolin's half-brother was the father of composer...
in Vienna in 1782, and thus became Lange's brother-in-law. The Mozarts and the Langes seem to have been friends, as the written record preserves various occasions that they socialized together, as did Wolfgang and Joseph individually. Both Lange and Mozart were Masons; see Mozart and Freemasonry
Mozart and Freemasonry
For the last seven years of his life Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a Mason. The Masonic order played an important role in his life and work.-Mozart's lodges:...
.
In 1783, Lange performed in one of Mozart's works, a "Masquerade" (pantomime with music) composed for Carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
. The characters were traditional figures of the Commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte
Commedia dell'arte is a form of theatre characterized by masked "types" which began in Italy in the 16th century, and was responsible for the advent of the actress and improvised performances based on sketches or scenarios. The closest translation of the name is "comedy of craft"; it is shortened...
, and the music was composed by Mozart (K. 446). Lange played Pierrot, and Mozart himself took the role of Harlequin.
He painted his famous (unfinished) portrait of his brother-in-law in 1783. The painting is usually printed showing only Mozart's face, leaving out the incomplete portion (the original intent was evidently to portray Mozart seated at the piano).
Lange also painted a portrait of Constanze in 1782:
Leopold Mozart
Johann Georg Leopold Mozart was a German composer, conductor, teacher, and violinist. Mozart is best known today as the father and teacher of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and for his violin textbook Versuch einer gründlichen Violinschule.-Childhood and student years:He was born in Augsburg, son of...
's visit to Vienna in 1785, Lange drew a portrait of him as well, but this is lost.
In 1787, Lange appeared in another work by Mozart, his opera Der Schauspieldirektor
Der Schauspieldirektor
Der Schauspieldirektor , K. 486, is a comic Singspiel written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Gottlieb Stephanie, an Austrian Schauspieldirektor....
. He took the spoken role of Herz., his wife Aloysia taking one of the two primary soprano roles, Madame Herz.
A report from 1788 indicates that he had given up painting by that time.
As of 1795, he lived separated from Aloysia. In 1808, he published his autobiography. From around 1800 on he lived together with a Therese Koch with whom he had three daughters.