SAINT-SAENS, CAMILLE. (1835-1921). French composer and organist. SP. (“C. Saint-Saens”). 1p. Large 4to. (Mount: 9” x 12”, Image: 6¾” x 9”). N.p., 1920. Handsome sepia bust portrait of Saint-Saens, inscribed in French in the upper portion of the image to Monsieur R. Bedetti, “in remembrance of the Concerto in A minor.”

A child prodigy, Saint-Saëns began his musical studies at the age of two, performing in public for the first time at five. Simultaneous to entertaining Parisians with his spectacular organ performances, Saint-Saëns exerted a profound influence during his brief teaching post at the École de Musique Classique et Religieuse in Paris and composing such works as the Danse Macabre and his justifiably famous Symphony No. 3. His output exceeded 300 compositions and he was among the first composers to write a motion picture score – the Assassination of the Duke of Guise in 1908.

Our inscription refers to Saint-Saens’ Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33, composed in 1872 for French cellist Auguste Tolbecque. There was a well-known cellist named Jean Bedetti (1882-1973) who was principal cello for the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1919-1948.

The photograph, bearing the photographer Bois-Guillot’s blind stamp in the lower right portion of the image, is mounted to a brown paper board. In overall very fine condition and scarce in this large format.