Mozart &
Material Culture

Souvenirs

Wife of Prince Ernst Christoph Kaunitz (1737-1797), imperial ambassador to Naples, 1763-1770, and daughter-in-law of Wenzel Anton Graf Kaunitz (1711-1794), imperial Habsburg chancellor, 1753-1793.

Kaunitz palazzo.jpg

Luigi Vanvitelli, Ballroom at the Kaunitz palace, Naples, as decorated for the wedding of Maria Karolina of Austria to Ferdinand IV of Naples, 1768 (New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Mozart Relevance

Countess Maria Leopoldine Elisabeth Kaunitz, together with Lady Catherine Hamilton, was instrumental in organizing Mozart’s academy of 28 May 1770 at her Naples home (Riviera di Chiaia 66, now the bed and breakfast Palazzo Mirelli).

Date 1
1741-11-28
Date 2
1795-02-28