Gabriel Fauré. Iconographie

Nectoux Gabriel Fauré. Iconographie

By means of pictures and photos this volume illuminates various aspects of Gabriel Fauré’s personality (1845–1924): the man among relatives and friends, the musician with colleagues and in the context of the time and the places where he worked.

Fauré was an attractive man with a distinct charm and strong appeal.  His physiognomy inspired many painters such as Eugène Baugnies, Paul Mathey, Antonio Argnani, Théo Van Rysselberghe, Ernest Laurent and Jacques-Émile Blanche; the most famous is certainly the oil painting by his British friend John Singer Sargent.  The number of photographs in which Fauré is depicted is also enormous due to the public positions he held: initially an organist at the Madeleine, he became a composition teacher at the Paris Conservatoire, then director of this institution and finally a member of the Institut de France.

In addition, the iconography contains a selection of documents: manuscripts, posters, costumes, production photos of his stage works as well as illustrated covers of original editions. And lastly, photos taken by Fauré himself are also included.

Collected, edited and annotated by Jean-Michel Nectoux, who has made Fauré the focus of his research work over a period of more than 50 years, this illustrated volume is a treasure trove for anyone fascinated by French music of the time.  The volume is published as a supplement to the Complete Critical Edition of Fauré’s Works.

- Gabriel Fauré Oeuvres complètes VII/2