Mozart &
Material Culture

Souvenirs

Diplomat, librettist and Tuscan ambassador to Naples at the time of the Mozarts’ visit there. 

Mozart Relevance

In his letter of 4 July 1770, Leopold wrote that ‘. . . on Friday [6 May] we’re having lunch with His Excellency the Tuscan ambassador, Baron Saint-Odile'. The Mozarts had already been recommended to Bonechi by Mathieu-Dominique Charles Poirot de la Blandinier de Saint-Odîle, Tuscan ambassador to the Holy See, in a letter of 21 April 1770:

  1. Your Excellency, To Sig. Leopoldo Mozart and his son, who have been introduced to me by the most valued letter whereby Your Excellency has recommended them to me, I have proffered my best services, and I shall certainly not fail to do all that may depend on me to assist them during their stay in the capital.

  2. Last night I heard young Mozart at the house of Prince Chigi; he is truly a prodigy of nature, all those present at the conversazione immensely admiring his excellence in music. I beg Your Excellency to give me preference in the execution of your most valued commands on any other occasion whatever, that I may have the advantage ever more actively to prove to you the most perfect devotion with which I have the honour to be Your Excellency's / Most devoted and most obliged Servant, / Saint-Odile / Rome, 21 April 1770 

Date 1
c1715, Florence
Date 2
after 1795, Naples