PUCCINI'S WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT SIGNED - Puccini, GiacomoClick Image to ZoomEnlarge Image

PUCCINI'S WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT SIGNED

Puccini, Giacomo (1858-1924)

Torre del Lago, December 31, 1903. On card stock measuring 4.75"h x 6.34" w. Total size in mat is 14" h x 12.25" w. Dated and signed under the image by Puccini Giacomo E Elvira. Excellent condition. Together with the original envelope, to Signor Dott. Parlo Del Parlo Medico, in an unidentified hand (possibly Elvira's?). Exceedingly rare.
Puccini's amazing wedding announcement - extremely rare.

This is the extraordinary wedding announcement for Puccini's marriage to Elvira Gemignani in 1904, the married woman with whom he had a scandalous affair and a child. The rather curious, amusing, somewhat vulgar, and altogether wonderful announcement was designed by the well-known painter and friend of Puccini, Plinio Nomellini. Puccini is shown naked except for a bit of music covering his private parts and a toy car slung over his shoulder, cars being one of his many passions. His arms are around the bride, holding his ever-present cigarette in one hand. The bride, dressed like a Greek goddess, holds up her ring finger and looks heavenward while a group of five naked musicians, all obviously depicting real people, serenade the gli sposi (the wedding couple) from a cloud. Puccini has penned the date under the image, sending his greeting and best wishes, signing the invitation Giacomo E Elvira.

Puccini met Elvira Gemignani in 1884 while giving her piano lessons. She was his long time partner of 17 years amidst a personal life that can, at best, be called ‘complicated’. Although married, she became Puccini's lover and their son was born in 1886. They eventually married, on January 3, 1904, after Elvira's husband Narciso was killed by the husband of a woman with whom Narciso had an affair. Oddly, his death occurred on February 26, 1903, just one day after a serious car accident from which Puccini took months to recover and which slowed his work on Madame Butterfly. Puccini's marriage to Elvira was also marred by infidelity and another major scandal was created when Elvira accused Puccini of having an affair with one of their servants, Doria Manfredi. Doria committed suicide but an autopsy proved her a virgin, so Elvira was sued for defamation and narrowly avoided imprisonment.

According to the Puccini biographer Howard Greenfield, this announcement was only sent to a few friends and family members. We have certainly never seen another one. Only Elvira's brother and a local doctor were at the civil ceremony - perhaps the addressee of this card is that local doctor; it was delivered by hand to Dott Parlo Del Parlo, Medico in Lucca.

Puccini was certainly a busy guy at this time - this announcement was sent out only a few days after he finished Madama Butterfly.

Plinio Nomellini (1866-1943) was a well-known painter who was a friend of Puccini and who moved to Torre del Lago at his suggestion in 1902, a year prior to this wedding announcement.

EPH-14245$12,000Share on Facebook