Circus Vorstellung 12. Februar 1919. Leopold, Freiherr Popper von Podhragy, 'Soufleur' Max Blau, 'Capellmeister' Meller. - 1919

Description

Original photographs - [Circus - Popper von Podhragy] Ludwig, Gutmann (Photographer). Circus Vorstellung 12. Februar 1919. Leopold, Freiherr Popper von Podhragy, 'Soufleur' Max Blau, 'Capellmeister' Meller. Wien [Vienna], L. Gutmann, IX Währinger Str. 18, 1919. 12 Fine (sepia) toned original photographs of a private party of Leopold Popper-Podhragy dressed as a woman, poses of him with 2 other men, and poses as acting in a circus performance. Kept in a contemporary envelope with manuscript annotations in blue pencil. Sheet-size: ca. 30.5 x 23 cm; image size: ca. 20 x 13 cm. Photographer's signature blindstamped under the photograph on mount.Beautiful, fine atelier photographs by the wellknown Viennese photographer Ludwig Gutmann (1869-1943). Depicted is (Friedrich) Leopold Salvator Popper-Podhragy (Vienna 1886 -1986 Vienna), Austrian private banker and art collector. He was the first son of the Jewish timber industrialist Alexander Freiherr Popper von Podhragy and his French wife, the famous opera singer Blanche Marchesi. In 1919 he married the celebrated opera diva Maria Jeritza. As a half-Jew he was arrested several times by the Gestapo. In 1939 he managed to escape to London, however, most of his extensive property was aryanized and not returned after the war. The other depicted persons in this private performance and charade are the souffleur, 'Witzenmacher' (joker) and librettist Max Blau (1870-1931) and the conductor and pianist Erich Meller (1890-1941). Two photographs with the same subject, but printed differently - in red tone and in silver. Beautiful photographs in very good condition.