Juan Breva (Málaga, 1844 - 1918)
Flamenco Record: "Fandanguillos", "Verdiales", 1901-1916
Shellac with paper label, 25.5 cm (10 1/16 in.)
This record is approximately 10 inches in diameter and plays Spanish flamenco music. Both sides of the black disc appear in good condition. The round, dark, rose colored, paper label in the center includes a semicircular illustration in its upper half. It shows a white dog with brown ears sitting on his haunches with his snout grazing the center of the trumpet of an old fashioned, gold victrola. The dog has his head tipped to one side. Around the edge of the picture are the words, Disco “Gramophone” Marca Internacional Regist no 11601. Just below the small hole in the center of the disc, where it fits on the turntable, the words, “Fandanguillos cantados por Juan Breba con acomp. de guitarra Madrid” are printed in gold on one side and on the reverse, “Verdiales” cantados por Juan Breba con acomp. de guitarra Madrid”. Below these Spanish words two identical white rectangles have “No de catalogo 3-62145” printed on the Fandanguillos side and 3-62146 on the Verdiales side. On each side of the label a small white stamp has a handwritten X mark drawn across it.
Macknight Room
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner and the artist John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) were close friends for decades. In addition to discussing art and travel, the two shared a love of music. In a letter preserved in the Museum Archives, Sargent describes their shared interest in flamenco and other Spanish music. The artist gave Isabella several flamenco records, which she clearly listened to: notes in her handwriting preserved on the labels classify each record as “good” or “bad.”