The Writer and the Hostess: Collections of Hugo von Hofmannsthal and Della Howard Come to Bonhams Knightsbridge

Bonhams 229-lot Collections Sale in London on Wednesday 7 July brings together selected items from the estates of writer and opera librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal (1874-1929) and society hostess Della Howard (1924-2020). One of the highlights is Mixed Flowers in a Vase by Jean François Raffaëlli (French, 1850-1924) from the von Hofmannsthal collection estimated at £8,000 - 12,000.

Head of Sale, #charliethomas, commented: "The Knightsbridge Collections sale offers a glimpse into the collecting tastes of some fascinating individuals. It features a curated array of wonderful decorative pieces, fine furniture, and interesting items full of character. The collections of Hugo von Hofmannsthal and Della Howard are particularly exciting. Von Hofmannsthal was man of great taste, intellect, and character – all of which is reflected in his collection. Similarly, each object included in the collection of Della Howard expresses her signature style – whether it's the red velvet covered sofa, religious works of art or modern British pictures."

Hugo von Hofmannsthal (1874-1929) is most famous for his long collaboration with the composer Richard Strauss on operas such as Der Rosenkavalier, Elektra and Ariadne auf Naxos. One of the foremost writers in German of the early 20th century, von Hofmannsthal was born in Vienna in 1874 and as a boy showed extraordinary literary gifts; he was only 16, when his lyrical poetry first caught the attention of the Austrian intellectual class. He quickly rose to prominence with his dramas and poetry, establishing himself at the heart of the Viennese coffee house intelligentsia. In 1920, together with Max Reinhardt, von Hofmannsthal established the now world-famous Salzburg festival – where his morality play Jedermann is still regularly performed.

Hofmannsthal lived his whole life in Rodaun, a suburb of Vienna with his wife Gertrud and three children, Christiana, Franz and Raimund in a house decorated with great taste and care. He chose his paintings and furniture with a real aesthete's discrimination, at one time owning Picasso's blue period self-portrait. Today his personal library and a small collection of his furniture are housed in the Goethe-Haus in Frankfurt.

Further information in the press release to download