Joseph Lange

Joseph Lange ( born April 1, 1751 Würzburg, † September 17, 1831 in Vienna ) was a German actor, painter, composer and writer. He is the painter of probably the most popular image of his brother Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, presumably 1782/83 was and - as the musicologist Michael Lorenz in 2009 recognized - originally on a format of 19 x 15 cm only showed Mozart's head. Probably 1789 was started at a magnification of small portraits, which should add Mozart's upper body and a piano, but was never completed.

Career

Joseph Lange came to Vienna in 1767. He initially wanted to become a painter and attended the Art Academy. Together with his older brother Michael Joseph Long, he built a theater lover. Joseph of Sun Rock recognized the talent of the brothers and won both for the big stage. 1770 she gave her debut at the Vienna Kärntnertortheater at the premiere of " Brutus " by Joachim Wilhelm von Brawe. Long 's brother died in 1771, but in sun rock he found a new mentor. Lange played until 1811 at the court theater.

In addition, a long but also the painting did not give up and specialized here especially on portraits. He also composed operettas (about Adelheid of Ponthieu ) and songs. He has also written an autobiography, which was published in 1808. The 26th chapter is dedicated to his brother Mozart.

Lange was married twice. His first wife died after a brief marriage in 1779. His second wife Luise Maria Antonia, nee Weber, was a successful singer and sister of Constanze Mozart.

Writings

• Biography of Joseph Long, k.k. Court actor. Publisher Rehm, Vienna 1808. ( Digitized, table of contents )