F. Chopin. Lock of hair, formerly owned by Princess Marcelina Czartoryska, c.1849

CHOPIN, FRYDERYK

Lock of hair, formerly owned by Princess Marcelina Czartoryska, Paris, c.1849

a lock of Chopin's brown hair, contained in a nineteenth-century paper wrapper, inscribed "Mèche des Cheveux de F. Chopin",

Princess Marcelina Czartoryska (1817-1894) was probably the most talented of Chopin's many well-connected pupils. She took charge of Chopin's care during his final months in Paris and was present at his death on 17 October 1849. She is shown in the famous deathbed painting by Teofil Kwiatkowski, along with Chopin's sister Ludwika and Wojciech Grzymała. Marcelina wrote a postscript to Ludwika's letter to her husband later that same day, announcing Chopin's death, signing herself "Marcelline--née Radziwill--Czartoryska", in which she assures him that she is caring for Ludwika as if she were her own sister.

LITERATURE:

Correpondance de Frédéric Chopin, edited by Sydow & Chainaye, III (1981), p.441 (letter no.785).

PROVENANCE:

Princess Marcelina Czartoryska, given by her to Céline Pouquet, née Gay (1818-1882; she married Paul Pouquet in February 1835); inscription on a later envelope ("donnés a Mme Paul Pouquet par la Psse Czartoryska")