Concerto Spirituale

This early 19th century print reissues an image first published in 1773, a decade when concerts of religious music were performed regularly at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. The viol da gamba player likely represents Carl Friedrich Abel, or possibly Johann Christian Bach. The oboe player has been identified as Johann Christian Fisher, and the French horn player as Giovanni Punto (born Jan Stich). These men came to London from the Continent hoping to take advantage of the patronage of George III–the British king was also prince-elector of Hanover, married Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and enjoyed German music.

Credit: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1959