Rossini's Cane
Pradier Jean-Jacques Dit Pradier James (Genève, 1790- Bougival, 1852)
France, 1829
Bois et ivoire, 88,5 cm
Don de l’œuvre des artistes de Liège
Liège, Musée Grétry
N° inv. : 992
Pradier Jean-Jacques Dit Pradier James (Genève, 1790- Bougival, 1852)
France, 1829
Bois et ivoire, 88,5 cm
Don de l’œuvre des artistes de Liège
Liège, Musée Grétry
N° inv. : 992
The finely carved ivory knob immediately catches the eye with its elegant design. Three portraits are engraved on it: those of Grétry, Mozart and Haydn.
Given by the sculptor James Pradier to his friend Gioachino Rossini, this cane is a symbol of elegance and refinement, reflecting the talent of Pradier (1790-1852), famous for his precious and delicate creations in the 19th century.
Rossini and Pradier met in Paris, probably between 1820 and 1830, when Rossini took over as director of the Théâtre-Italien and Pradier was already a recognised figure. Their friendship was cemented by the creation of this knob, which was given to Rossini in 1829 as a true testament to their mutual respect. The cane is now kept at the Grétry Museum in Liège.
This knob is much more than a simple ornament: it is a miniature artistic manifesto. Three effigies adorn its surface, those of Grétry, Mozart and Haydn, central figures of the late 18th century.
The choice of Grétry is particularly noteworthy. A composer from Liège who settled in Paris, he conquered the Comédie-Italienne in 1768 with works marked by wit and melodic clarity. Until the 1780s, his creations were considered essential milestones in comic opera, earning him the reputation as the emblematic musician of this theatre, the true ancestor of the future Théâtre-Italien directed by Rossini from 1824 onwards. Alongside Mozart, the universal representative of Viennese genius, and Haydn, the inventor of symphonic classicism, Grétry symbolises French recognition in an international pantheon. The object thus acquires a heritage resonance: it embodies the union of European musical traditions and bears witness to the prestige attached to opera in the Age of Enlightenment.
Patrick Dheur
Curator of the Musée Grétry
Object of the month on video
Exhibition Location
The objects are displayed in the Object of the Month display case. Entrance hall of the Grand Curtius Museum in Liège.
Copyright des photos : Ville de Liège - Grand Curtius