Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Felix (1809 - 1847)

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809 – 1847)
Steel engraving, around 1840
Robert-Schumann-Haus Zwickau

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, who was a close and dear friend to both Schumanns and who supported Robert in all matters, got acquainted with Robert Schumann  and Clara Wieck in August 1835 in Leipzig. After suffering from a stroke, Mendelssohn died on 4 November 1847, which deeply depressed Schumann. With Mendelssohn, who was director of the Leipzig Gewandhaus (1835) and also urbane artistic personality gained considerable influence in society, Schumann lost one of his closest friends and a "venerable artist", whom he described as "the first contemporary musician” and highly appreciated. Schumann accompanied Mendelssohn's coffin with e.g. Moscheles, Gade, David and Julius Rietz, The memory of Mendelssohn persisted with Schumanns choosing Mendelssohn’s first name - Felix - for their youngest son (I.B.)

Translation: Katharina Ma