Parent (hortense) - Students' Album - Pianist And Pedagogue

N.p., 1861-1889. Oblong 8vo (162 x 228 mm), 20 mounted leaves with 2 cut-out inserts, green morocco, spine with 5 false nerves, blind-tooled frames, two brass clasps, gilt edges (period binding signed LENEGRE).

Touching photographic album of students of Hortense Parent (1837-1929), pianist, composer and pedagogue. Presented to Hortense Parent by two students in 1861, completed with portraits until 1889. 80 photographs (period albumen prints) + 1 loose photograph. Students' names noted in pencil or ink (7 unidentified).

Remarkable portraits: Madame Parent (Lejeune), Félix Le Couppey (1814-1887, Hortense Parent's teacher at Conservatoire, inscribed 1861), Jeanne Taravant (1860-1920, renowned pianist, inscribed 1875). 10 portraits inscribed on verso by sitters, 7 students photographed at different ages.

Prestigious photographers: Bisson brothers, Pierre Petit, Charles Reutlinger, Pierre-Ambroise Richebourg, Serguei Levitsky, Augustin Lejeune, Léon Joliot, Eugène Villette, Nicolas Persus, Charles Winter (Strasbourg).

Pioneer pedagogue: Hortense Parent, first prizes in harmony (1855) and piano (1857) at Paris Conservatoire (student of Louise Farrenc). Professor at École Le Couppey. Founded École préparatoire au professorat de piano in 1882, first institution to train young women in piano teaching. Motto: "All the master's lessons must tend toward this goal: teaching the student to do without him." Publications: L'École du piano (1872), La Lecture des notes sur toutes les clefs (1886, first method using color), Répertoire encyclopédique du pianiste (1901-1907). Officer of Palmes académiques (1884), silver medals at Universal Exhibitions (1889, 1900), Prix Marillier de Lapeyrouse of Académie des beaux-arts (1910).

Provenance: Hortense Parent (inscription 1861), then Mlle Cappelle (manuscript annotation by Hortense Parent, 1918).

Condition: rubbing, minor marginal tears, stains or foxing to some photos.