Pen and ink drawing from Mozart's time

This painting by an unknown artist from around 1770 depicts a concert or a full rehearsal with 24 orchestral instruments. It shows not only the musicians with their instruments, but also the notes on the music stands, which are reproduced so precisely that the key and time signature of the sinfonia just played with flutes, oboes, horns and bassoons are recognizable.The sheet provides an example of how large-scale music worked in Mozart's time: for example, how many musicians took part in an orchestral piece, how many of them used the same desk, what types of instruments were used (e.g. oboes and harpsichord), how the bass was scored, what bowing position was usual, whether the keyboard instrument was used with the lid open and, finally, what the non-standardized orchestral arrangement was, i.e. how the instrumental groups were distributed.

The work was previously attributed to the German-British painter Johan Zoffany (1733-1810). However, recent research has ruled out this artist, but an important draughtsman must have been at work.

The drawing, which was most recently in private hands, was first presented to the public in Salzburg in 1991. At the time, it was assumed that the picture depicted Mozart. However, the Mozart connection is now very much in doubt, not least because the sheet is neither signed nor dated. It is on display until the end of October as part of the Mozart portrait exhibition Mozart pictures - Pictures of Mozart in the Mozart residence.