The cellist Franz Wödl 1827

Peter Fendi made this oil on canvas portrait of the cellist Franz Wödl in Vienna, Austria during the first half of the 19th century. We know that in the Vienna of Fendi's time, institutions such as the Academy of Fine Arts played a key role in shaping artistic styles and careers. What does it mean, then, for an artist like Fendi to choose as his subject not a member of the nobility, but a musician? The image creates meaning through its depiction of Wödl as a serious and dignified figure, worthy of being portrayed. Is this a comment on the changing social status of artists and musicians in 19th century Vienna? Or is Fendi’s portrait just a commission? To understand Fendi's choices better, we could research the social status of musicians in Vienna at that time, and study the patronage networks that supported artists like Fendi. Remember that art always exists within a specific social and institutional context, and understanding that context is key to interpreting its meaning.