Bidspirit auction | PADEREWSKI I. J.: (1860-1941)

PADEREWSKI I. J.: (1860-1941) - PADEREWSKI I. J.: (1860-1941) Polish pianist, composer, philanthropist, and statesman who served as Prime Minister of Poland January-November 1919. A fine vintage signed and inscribed cabinet photograph, the sepia albumen print by the London Stereoscopic Company of Regent Street depicting Paderewski in an engaging head and shoulders pose. Signed by the pianist in dark fountain pen ink across a lighter area of the image, ´Dr. Robert Ash, with best thanks and kindest regards, I J Paderewski´ and dated January 1894 in his hand. With the photographer´s imprint to the lower mount and verso. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG After the explosive, exhausting success of his first two American concert tours (1891–93), Paderewski purposefully avoided booking a third consecutive winter tour in the United States. Instead, he spent January 1894 isolated in Paris, deeply immersed in writing new music.